THE AIM OF THE GARDEN 



FIG. i. Tennis Lawn, Killarney House, Killarney. 



lower steps of the pyramid of general knowledge 

 to rise with some care and thought to a more perfect 

 attainment. But the passion for gardening among 

 the majority of people unfortunately does not imply, 

 at the present day, a widespread grasp of the 

 principles of design. The untrained eye and the 

 age is full of untrained eyes where art is concerned 

 admires the effect of a skilfully planned garden, but 

 is seldom capable of seeing that there are serious 

 principles involved, or that without them such effects 

 would be impossible. Moreover, it is infinitely 

 easier to produce a fine bloom or a beautiful plant 

 than to know where it should best be placed for its 

 proper display. Popular knowledge is chiefly in 

 matters of detail rather than of generalised principle, 



