134 GARDEN PLANNING 



in hand, and take his stand, say, near the house 

 door, or in some central position from which 

 he may hope in time to obtain a general view 

 of his garden picture. There he may exercise 

 his mind by building in imagination upon his 

 ground plan, seeking to place such features 

 as he may decide to introduce into the garden. 

 He will obtain suggestions from already exist- 

 ing objects. For instance, the presence of a 

 well-grown tree on neighbouring premises may 

 help the picture, enabling him to dispense 

 with the planting of trees on his own. On 

 the other hand, he may observe some un- 

 sightly object which it will be necessary to 

 endeavour to screen from view. 



Bearing in mind what I have already written 

 about "composition" in the artist's sense of 

 the term, he must avoid symmetry in masses, 

 and seek for balance of effect by other means. 

 If he has decided upon a garden-house, let 

 him have it built with a simple, pointed roof, 

 and restrain his impulses in the direction of 

 destroying its outlines with a maze of rustic 

 work. Its pyramid form is useful in giving 

 a certain punctuation to the skyline. He 

 may even decorate it with a weather-cock, 



