Preface vii 



Other reasons for taking to the woods are, that 

 there we at least get away from the vain though 

 harmful talk about 'styles ' with which most hooks on 

 garden design are filled. We also part with the new 

 and foolish teaching of the forestry books, separating 

 tree-ctdture into two branches — arboriculture and 

 sylviculture. If we go into a real wood anywhere we 

 may soon see that true beauty is there and vigour 

 too. Much wealth has been wasted in our islands in 

 planting Pines in pinetums and pleasure-grounds 

 where they never show their true character nor even 

 grow well, in spite of often costly and needless pre- 

 paration of soil. 



In the free woodland weeding or routine of any 

 kind need not trouble us ; and there we may easily 

 naturalize good native plants not already to be found 

 there, or the finer woodland plants of other countries 

 {Narcissus, Snowdrops, blue Windflower) and native 

 plants not found in our district {Royal Fern, the 

 Snowflake, and Lily of the Valley). 



The open, airy, and well-considered ways I plead 

 for are not against our woodland work in any way- 

 The finest trees are often found at the sides of rides, 

 their roots occupying all the ground; and such rides 

 are best for hunting, shooting, riding, walking, and 

 every use or pleasure to which woodland can be put. 



