THE THEORY OF GARDEN DESIGN 



THE fact that a third edition of Mr. T. H. Maw- 

 son's "Art and Craft of Garden Making" has 

 lately appeared is a sign that the old naturalistic 

 ideas of garden design are losing their hold upon the 

 public; for Mr. Mawson, both in precept and ex- 

 ample, is altogether against naturalism in gardening. 

 This does not mean that he is altogether against 

 nature. His advice, put shortly, is Never imitate 

 nature with intent to deceive; but, where there is 

 natural beauty already in a garden, make use of it. 

 It is mere pedantry, he says, to condemn all com- 

 binations of nature and art. "Even in prosaic manu- 

 factures many successes depend upon nature's as- 

 sistance and supplies wisely applied by man, notably 

 in dyeing and fermentation and many others. An 

 illustration of frequent occurrence is to be found in 

 the combination of terrace walls built on the natural 

 rock which crops out of the ground; a combination 

 which is most effective when skilfully done. As- 

 sisting or touching up nature is more a question of 

 the spirit in which it is done, rather than the prin- 

 ciple which calls forth criticism." This is not very 



well expressed, but the meaning is clear and the il- 



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