The Winning Designs 



achieved in this design, and that is facile connection 

 by dry paths, that are not too obtrusive, between all 

 parts. 



In the design by Mr. Ernest Biggs (p. 72) we come 

 at once upon an appreciation of the seclusion a garden 

 should afford. He starts by creating a sense of pleasant 

 isolation from the outside world by planting a screen of 

 vegetation trees, shrubs, etc. right round the site, 

 and if I interpret the lines on his plan aright, he would 

 achieve some highly desirable effects by his arrange- 

 ment, for he does not lay down the gospel of straight 

 lines quite so ardently as is done in some cases. An 

 irregular outline to shrubbery planting is often desir- 

 able, and an isolated tree or shrub, as it were casually 

 breaking away from the actual border into the lawn, 

 is often picturesque. It also tends to eradicate the 

 sense of being bounded on four sides by fences that 

 seem always too near one. If Mr. Dalgliesh in his 

 design produces effects that can be described as ambi- 

 tiously formal, Mr. Biggs displays distinct aspirations 

 in the direction of what is sometimes erroneously 

 described as natural gardening. I cannot say the 

 result in this case is generally very happy, and in the 

 end evidently Mr. Biggs realized this too, the result 

 being that he has produced a plan that is too much 

 cut up by paths, most of which lead in the same direc- 

 tion without producing anywhere a really interesting 

 perspective. If Rhododendrons are wanted and they 

 are, as a rule, I think the rectangular bed opposite the 

 dining-room window is the last place I should suggest 

 for them. If they did well they would grow, and if 

 they grew, within a year or two there would be a blank 



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