GARDENS OF THE STUARTS 183 



neither pleasant or useful. Therefore where ever your 

 house is, near it must be your garden." 



If, however, the house was not already built, in choos- The selec- 

 tion of a 

 ing its location, a site with good soil for a garden was site. 



selected, with a southern or southeastern exposure, a 

 water supply, and a pleasant view. At some distance, 

 a belt of tall trees was planted to break the wind in win- 

 ter and spring, and furnish shade in the warm weather. 



Both Rea and Worlidge considered the " most grace- 

 ful grounds an entire level." If the site were a hillside, 

 then the gardens were naturally laid out in terraces, if 

 possible below the house. " For it is much more pleas- 

 ant to view a garden under the eye than above it, and 

 to descend into a garden and ascend into a house than 

 on the contrary." 



In speaking of the form, Worlidge says: "The round The round 



form. 



is very pleasant and some curious gardens there are of 

 that form in foreign parts. The walls about such a gar- 

 den are very good for fruit, the wind not being as severe 

 against a round as against a straight wall. The walk also 

 that circumdates the garden is not unpleasant, for there 

 you may walk as long as you please in it, always for- 

 wards without any short turning; some straight walks 

 there may be that tend from the circumference to the 

 centre. The several quadrants may be subdivided and 

 planted with fruits, the borders of the round walks 

 and the cross walks being sufficient for flowers , and 



