Garden design and recent writings upon it 1 1 



nine cases out of ten we can tell beforehand what we are 

 going to see in a country place in the way of conventional 

 garden design and planting ; and clearly that is not art 

 in any right sense of the word, and never can be. 



As we go about our country the most depressing sign 

 for all garden lovers (this often in districts of great 

 natural beauty) is the stereotyped garden, probably made 

 from an office book of plans. There is a belief in the 

 virtue of paper plans which is misleading and only suits 

 the wants of professionalism, and prevents the study of 

 the ground itself, the only way to get the best result. 

 Some of the new writers have no heart for the many 

 beautiful things in the shape of trees and shrubs which 

 have come to us during the past generation or two : 



A very few varieties of English trees are sufficient for all 

 purposes, and we have yew for hedges, fine turf for a carpet, 

 and quite enough flowers of brilliant hue that have always 

 had a place in our gardens without importing curiosities from 

 abroad. 



Variety essential. Now if there is any clear fact about 

 gardening it is that its charm often arises from variety, 

 not necessarily botanical variety, but the difference be- 

 tween a Menabilly and the conventional garden essen- 

 tially lies in a variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. 

 These writers need to be told that it is impossible to 

 make a beautiful garden without the variety which they 

 say is useless, not having, of course, any idea of the 

 dignity and beauty of the trees of Japan, the Rocky 

 Mountains, and northern Asia, or America. 



One such writer says : 



It is no use spending money on gardeners and repairs, as 

 it might be much better invested in architectural improvements 

 or waterworks in the pleasure grounds. 



