OUR SENTIMENTAL GARDEN 



thickets, interspersed with patches of heather and furze. 

 There were but two paths, running down, in purely utilitarian 

 lines, from the higher level to that of the cottage potager. 

 <What has been achieved since then in the matter of path- 

 cutting can be made patent by a glance at Mr. Robinson's 

 perspective map of the Villino grounds.) 

 So thick and strenuous was the growth of underwood 

 self-sown infant Hollies, adolescent Larches and Pines, 

 young Ashes, Oaks and Chestnuts in their nonage, all 

 interlocked, entwined in Brambles and Honeysuckle, that 

 hardly anywhere could the trunks of the full-grown trees 

 be distinguished. 



Now it is obvious that the beauty of wooded grounds 

 depends essentially upon light effects under the foliage and 

 between the boles/ upon distant peeps. In no direction 

 ought the view ever to be solidly stoppedunless, of course, 

 where it is desired to hide some unpleasing prospect. It 

 may therefore be erected into a maxim that, if trees are 

 to be enjoyed, underwoods must be sacrificed wholesale. 



At first, with that reverence for things which, if they may 

 be laid low at one blow or two of the billhook, require 

 many years for their growth, one feels inclined to hesitate. 

 One's heart rebels at the thought of cutting off in the 

 flower of its youth the sapling that -in the spring is of so 

 tender green, the bush of name unknown but engaging 

 enough if there were not " so many of him/' But it soon 

 becomes evident that you must harden your heart and 

 ruthlessly slash away the bulk of undergrowths, for good 

 and all. 

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