124 GARDENS IN THE MAKING 



done, and where the gradient of the ground is not 

 very steep it will be advisable to accept the slope, 

 and correct it only at intervals where a level walk 

 seems most desirable. Terraced walks are appro- 

 priately placed round sunk gardens, pools, and 

 lawns for tennis or bowls, or they may follow the 

 line of a fine wall separated only by the proper width 

 for an herbaceous border. Wherever they are found 

 they will promote the most commonplace lines to 

 an appearance of dignity and beauty. Moreover, 

 the key to the treatment of many a difficult and 

 apparently hopeless site is to be found in cutting a 

 terrace right through the troublesome area, which 

 soon is brought from chaos into order. 



The stone balustrade is by far the most beautiful 

 finish to the retaining wall of the terrace, but it has 

 suffered at the hand of many a caricaturist and 

 traducer, and its reputation has been much tarnished 

 thereby. Let the balustrade, however, be in good 

 freestone with its surface left somewhat rough ; let 

 the balusters themselves be of good pattern, full in 

 outline and sturdy in design, and let them be placed 

 well apart with more than their own width between 

 them ; and finally, let the stone rail or coping which 



