104 GARDENS IN THE MAKING 



flowers are such as have a soft and free growth 

 mingling easily one with another. Do not accen- 

 tuate the stiffness of stiff flowers by forming hard 

 patterns ; mingle your tulips, disperse your hya- 

 cinths, and encourage a luxuriant growth in your 

 geraniums in pots and urns, instead of ranging 

 these brilliant blooms in uncomfortable ranks and in 

 an unnatural discipline. 



The materials of a formal garden are thus four- 

 fold. First, the external boundary with its gates or 

 archways ; second, the lines of stone, brick, box, 

 or yew which trace the varied forms of the pattern ; 

 third, the filling of paving, turf, or flowers for the 

 walks and beds ; and fourth, such features as 

 emphasise the points of the design : a sundial, 

 vases, standards, or cut trees and shrubs in pots. 

 So numerous are the variations which can be played 

 or the changes sounded with these simple instru- 

 ments that it is impossible even to indicate a tithe 

 of their potential beauties here. The simplest 

 arrangement of rectangular beds will have its own 

 charm, while the most intricate designs, skilfully 

 placed, will not tire the eye, but will engage it with 

 a rich maze of colour. A sunk garden is perhaps 



