Introduction 



culty of producing this volume, such as it is, can 

 hardly be conceived by those who enjoy the 

 blessings of stationary retirement or a permanent 

 home." To an unusual degree Repton's books 

 state his own theory, relate his own practice, 

 record his own ideals. They are the basis upon 

 which he wished posterity to judge him, for he 

 says : ** It is rather upon my opinions in writing 

 than on the partial and imperfect manner in which 

 my plans have sometimes been executed, that 

 I wish my fame to be established." The present 

 volume is published to supply the demand for 

 Repton's counsel. It is issued under the title of 

 "The Art of Landscape Gardening," and contains 

 his two best works : " Sketches and Hints on 

 Landscape Gardening," published in 1795, and 

 "The Theory and Practice of Landscape Gar- 

 dening," published in 1803. These two books, 

 reprinted and illustrated in modern form and 

 edited the better to serve modern conditions, 

 constitute, it is believed, one of the most valuable 

 works in English upon the principles of laying- 

 out ground. 



To make his designs intelligible Repton found 

 that a mere map or plan was insufficient; it could 

 no more convey an idea of the landscape than the 

 ground-plan of a house could of its elevation. 

 To remedy this deficiency he invented a method 

 of showing the proposed improvements by means 

 of two illustrations or slides, as he called them, 



