COURTYARDS 67 



relieved by a centre-piece for which it should not 

 be difficult to choose an effective feature. A square 

 of turf or stone paving, with a clipped tree set in 

 the ground or in a tub, a fountain with moulded 

 parapet, a figure of stone or lead or a maze of 

 dwarf box hedges will adorn the central space, and 

 will prove valuable in adding definition to the 

 quadrangular or circular treatment. It is often 

 necessary to sink the courtyard to a level lower 

 than the surrounding ground, and the necessary 

 retaining wall will provide excellent material for a 

 formal treatment of the boundaries. It is as well, 

 in such cases, to avoid grass banks or so-called 

 " rockeries " ; the grass slope is better confined to 

 the gardens themselves, and rock plants should 

 have a domain of their own with a background of 

 green to show up their masses of brilliant colour. 



Courts other than those to the entrance provide 

 endless scope for an inventive fancy. Whether 

 enclosed on three sides or wholly within the 

 buildings it should be possible to make them 

 gay with flowers, with some special setting or 

 background to complete a choice and alluring 

 picture. Unless they are very large, it is difficult 



