FORMATION OF A TOPIARY GARDEN 41 



garden, everything should be laid out in a formal way ; 

 always, of course, taking care to avoid unnecessary stiff- 

 ness in design. 



In the carrying out of the Topiary work, Man is 

 striving to a very great extent against Nature, and 

 Nature is never an easy adversary to fight. Natural 

 beauty, therefore, must not be considered too deeply in 

 the formal laying out of a Topiary garden. I am far 

 from wishing to imply that Nature should be entirely 

 neglected ; but in the general formation and practical 

 management of a Topiary garden, a quaint and unique 

 appearance is the thing that must be aimed at, and some- 

 times even a grotesque effect. Hence Nature must 

 occasionally be relegated to a secondary position. 

 Natural beauties, however, appeal to everybody, and 

 if it can be found possible to combine the two, so much 

 the better. 



If it is intended to lay out a garden in which plenty 

 of space can be allowed for planting, let us say, a 

 hundred or more trees, a large piece of ground will be 

 found to be necessary. It is always advisable to devote 

 plenty of ground to the work, as it is a great mistake 

 to plant the trees too close together. Although the 

 trees when in a small state may not appear to be 

 crowded, if sufficient space has not been allowed for 

 their growth and development, the garden will after- 

 wards present a cramped and heavy appearance which 

 will greatly mar its general effect as times goes on. 



The system of planting entirely in grass is not, I 

 think, to be greatly recommended, although a few 

 single trees planted here and there on the lawns may 

 look well. For various reasons which shall be explained 

 hereafter, I believe it to be better to combine the 

 Topiary proper and the flower-garden. 



When it has been decided how many trees it is in- 

 tended to plant, and how much space is available for 



