1 64 GARDENS IN THE MAKING 



they possess the essence of its harmony, which, added 

 to their suitability for assuming the conventional 

 forms of art, make them so valuable to us. Nothing 

 gives finer character to a garden than boundaries of 

 massive yew hedge, nor. has the brilliant colour of 

 flowers a better foil than dwarf borders of yew or 

 box. And so much is this true that we need never 

 be in danger of planting in excess, for with a little 

 skill and judgment every additional hedge or 

 parterre will bring a measure of increased richness 

 and beauty. 



Topiary work, though unending in its possibilities, 

 may be divided into three main divisions : the 

 treatment of hedges, the shaping of isolated trees, 

 and the network filling for formal gardens which 

 ranges in size from the simple parterre to the 

 elaborate maze or labyrinth, covering a very extended 

 area. Of the yew hedge we have already spoken, 

 of its arched, buttressed, recessed or battlemented 

 forms. Loop-holes can be made through it, while 

 cresting, finials and a thousand cut shapes can vary 

 its skyline, their number being restricted only by 

 the size of the hedge and the amount of labour 

 available. And with or without these extra adorn- 



