202 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



but always distinctly inferior to a stone edging because more 

 troublesome, and also because dwarf plants cannot grow over them 

 here and there as they can over a rough edging of natural stone, the 

 best of all edgings. 



This garden shows two essential things in the art of garden 

 design : First, that it is by studying the ground itself, rather than 

 bringing in any conventional plans, that we arrive 

 Hawley. at the best results. Gardening is so pleasant in 



many ways that almost any plan may pass for 

 pretty and yet be far from being the most artistic result that could 

 be got among a given set of conditions or difficulties it may be of 

 ground. If in such a case we adopt such plans as are sent out from 

 offices both in France and England, it is possible that (with con- 

 siderable cost) we may adapt them to the situation, but assuredly 

 that way cannot give us the most artistic result. 



The second point is, that where the vegetation of a place has 

 distinct characters of its own, these should be made the most of. If 

 this were the case generally we should see much 

 Pines in groups less of the stereotyped in garden design. This 

 and masses. garden is in the charming Pine district of Hamp- 

 shire ; this was taken advantage of, and the Pine 

 look of the place preserved in all ways, and even heightened where 

 it could be done with good effect. These Pine groups and masses 

 were naturally more of the framework of the garden the woods and 

 trees surrounding it. The next thing was to take advantage of the 

 natural vegetation of the ground apart from the trees, e.g., the heathy 

 vegetation of the country, and instead of destroying it for turf or 

 any of the usual features of a garden, preserving all its prettiest 

 effects, its groups of Heath, wild Fern, and some Birch and Broom. 

 Enough mown grass being left to walk upon outside the garden, it 

 was thought the prettiest thing, instead of a shaven lawn, would be 

 to leave the wild Heaths and bushes and grass of the country, here 

 and there scattering a few bulbs on the grass, but generally leaving 

 things as nature had left them. The walks, instead of following 

 the French sections of eggs pattern or the conventional serpentine 

 walks of some landscape work, were made in the line of easiest 

 grade and where they were most wanted, and are not more in 

 number or area than were necessary. There was no attempt made 

 to make the walks conform to any preconceived idea. The grass 

 walk under the Oaks was suggested by the Oaks themselves, and 

 it is very pretty in effect. Originally several terraces had been 

 run up at all sorts of awkward angles, and the ground was con- 

 sequently more difficult to deal with than can well be imagined ; 

 these were thrown into one simple terrace round the house, 



