^Straining after Effect" 



the front is composed chiefly of bare patches, leggy 

 specimens, and dead leaves at the base of the taller 

 subjects. This is not only unnecessary, it is positively 

 sinful. There are hundreds of varieties of plants that 

 can be used for the purpose, the dwarf varieties of 

 Campanulas, Dianthus, Aubretias, Veronicas, and 

 many others. Let them grow out from the border on 

 to the path and so form an irregular line, that should 

 never be allowed to grow out so far, however, as to 

 impede free progress down the path. 



There is another happy feature in this design that is 

 worthy of emphasis viz., that, starting with a site that 

 is quite level, Mr. Morris (p. 45) creates a variety not 

 otherwise obtainable by excavating to a depth of 

 2 feet, and thus creating a sunk lawn. In itself this 

 is an idea admirable in many ways, especially when 

 the site is large enough. In such a case, despite the 

 fact that such a variation of levels is purely artificial 

 (not always the happiest method of treating a garden) , 

 where the lines are simple and well managed the result 

 would be in no sense that of " straining after effect." 

 It must be confessed, however, that the effect in this 

 site would have been better had the garden been 10 feet 

 wider. Only 2 feet are allowed for a border on the 

 south side. This is not enough to get away from the 

 line of the fence. The lawn itself could not be much 

 less than the 26 feet allowed for it, although it might 

 be reduced to 24 feet without creating a sense of 

 contraction. Twenty-four feet would just bring the 

 centre of the lawn on to that of the dining-room win- 

 dow, thus 2 feet could be gained for the border. There 

 is another way in v/hich more could be gained viz., 



43 



