38 THE BOOK OF TOPIARY 



his garden can never expect to see his work perfected ; 

 for, even in its natural state, the yew is an extremely 

 slow-growing tree, and when it is subjected to continual 

 clipping and pruning year after year, its growth is con- 

 siderably impeded. 



But, even after allowing for this objection, I think it 

 is a style of gardening that should be more encouraged, 

 and, if possible, made more popular than it is at the 

 present time. I am fully aware that there are many 

 authorities in the gardening world who condemn the 

 Formal Garden as unnatural ; but I am certain that 

 there is a charm and a beauty of its own in Topiary 

 work not to be met with in the modern garden. No 

 doubt it would be a pity were every person's tastes to 

 be alike, and fortunately opinions differ in gardening as 

 in other matters. 



We will suppose, however, that, notwithstanding the 

 objections I have named, some reader of mine has decided 

 to make for himself a Dutch, or Topiary Garden for 

 both styles are practically the same. 



The choosing of a situation, if a choice can be had, is 

 of primary importance. A place should be selected where 

 the trees to be planted can obtain the fullest possible 

 amount of sunlight. At the same time, it should be 

 completely sheltered from every wind that blows. 



It must be remembered that although the yew is a 

 tree which will grow and flourish in almost any out-of- 

 the-way corner when left alone in its natural state, it is 

 quite a different matter when each individual tree in the 

 garden is intended to be as fine and as perfect a specimen 

 of Topiary work as it is possible to make it; and, like 

 everything else in a Topiary garden, a tree should be 

 trained as well as possible, or else let alone altogether. 



It is very easy to perceive the great difference between 

 trees which have been planted partly or wholly in the 

 shade and those that have always enjoyed a full measure 



