32 GARDEN PLANNING 



lead inevitably to a formal result. Such is 

 not the case. On the contrary, in small gar- 

 dens the use of straight lines, in combination 

 with a studied simplicity of treatment, is the 

 most efficient means of securing an informal 

 result, because it enables the designer to har- 

 monize his plan with the shape of the garden 

 boundaries. 



On the other hand, the use of curved lines 

 may only serve to render too conspicuous 

 the rigid outlines of these boundaries. I shall 

 deal with this part of the subject in more detail 

 in the next chapter. 



I must here emphasize the value of variety 

 — variety in outline and variety in shape — as 

 opposed to too frequent repetition of similar 

 shapes, and variety in planting so as to secure 

 a good effect in the vertical plane. 



Such variety must be carefully thought out, 

 and made to give character to the garden as 

 a whole. This does not imply over-elaboration, 

 about which I have already warned the reader, 

 nor is it opposed to simplicity of treatment. 

 It is just the avoidance of undue repetition 

 of lines and shapes. 



Another factor in the attainment of the 



