So grew into life and shape some of the great gardens that still 

 remain ; in the best of them, the old Italian traditions modified by 

 gradual and insensible evolution into what has become an English style. 

 For it is significant to observe that in some cases, where a classical model 

 has been too rigidly followed, or its principles too closely adhered to, 

 that the result is a thing that remains exotic — that will not assimilate 

 with the natural conditions of our climate and landscape. What is right 

 and fitting in Italy is not necessarily right in England. The general 

 principles may be imported, and may grow into something absolutely 

 right, but they cannot be compelled or coerced into fitness, any more 

 than we can take the myrtles and lentisks of the Mediterranean region 

 and expect them to grow on our middle-England hill-sides. This is so 

 much the case, with what one may call the temperament of a region and 

 climate, that even within the small geographical area of our islands, the 

 comparative suitability of the more distinctly Italian style may be clearly 

 perceived, for on our southern coasts it is much more possible than in 

 the much colder and bleaker midlands. 



Thus we find that one of the best of the rather nearly Italian gardens 

 is at Brockenhurst in the New Forest, not far from the warm waters of 

 the Solent. The garden, in its present state, was laid out by the late 

 Mr. John Morant, one of a long line of the same name owning this 

 forest property. He had absorbed the spirit of the pure Italian gardens, 

 and his fine taste knew how to bring it forth again, and place it with a 

 sure hand on English soil. 



It is none the less beautiful because it is a garden almost without 

 flowers, so important and satisfying are its permanent forms of living 

 green walls, with their own proper enrichment of ball and spire, bracket 

 and buttress, and so fine is the design of the actual masonry and sculpture. 



The large rectangular pool, known as the Canal, bordered with a 

 bold kerb, has at its upper end a double stair-way ; the retaining wall 

 at the head of the basin is cunningly wrought into buttress and niche. 

 Every niche has its appropriate sculpture and each buttress-pier its urn- 

 like finial. On the upper level is a circular fountain bordered by the 

 same kerb in lesser proportion, with stone vases on its circumference. 

 The broad walk on both levels is bounded by close walls of living 



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