80 EVERSLEY GARDENS 



within the last three decades, thanks in great 

 measure to the opening of Japan with its 

 wealth of hardy trees and flowers, that, with 

 a little thought and for a very small sum, 

 the laying-out of new pleasure grounds and 

 the beautifying of old ones becomes an easy 

 and delightful task. I confess I have such 

 a horror of the common Laurel from past 

 tribulations, that, though it is still useful in 

 many cases, I will not allow one in my garden 

 here. When we first went to the old seven- 

 teenth-century house at Tachbrook, in War- 

 wickshire, the garden had been neglected for 

 many years, and the shrubberies were overrun 

 with Laurels. Much labour and many torn 

 garments did they cost me ; for they had 

 grown so wild that stacks of dead wood had 

 to be cut out and live wood cut down before 

 they could shoot afresh. But when that was 

 done, and Spring had come, what delighful 

 surprises began to reveal themselves ; for 

 coming to the place in Autumn, one could 

 not guess what it contained of charming, old- 

 fashioned plants. The grass walks among 



