THE AIMS OF LANDSCAPE-GARDENING 7 



an infinite variety of plant growth and plant-food ; 

 she brings rain and warmth and sunshine ; she 

 provides air to breathe and a stimulating compan- 

 ionship to encourage growth and beauty ; and she 

 spreads a protecting blanket in winter. 



The painter completes his painting in a few hours 

 or days. It may then remain for years just as left 

 by his finishing touches. The landscape-gardener, 

 on the other hand, must wait years for the picture 

 he conceives to develop fully. His conception of the 

 effect he wishes to produce may be the result of min- 

 utes or days of study. It is gained as quickly as 

 the painter's idea of his composition, and the time 

 required for recording his conception on paper is 

 comparatively brief. Sometimes the scheme he has 

 in mind will be worked out directly on the ground 

 without the use of drawings. The result he is 

 after is out-doors, and as it is usually produced by 

 living things --trees, shrubs, flowers, grass, and 

 various ground-covering plants --which necessarily 

 change, it becomes a moving picture. In other 

 words, this efforts result in a series of pictures or 

 effects resembling each other but gradually ap- 

 proaching his ideal. His skill will depend first on 

 this ideal, on his ability to form a satisfactory 



