SLOPING GARDENS I47 



The existence of such a bank as seen in the illus- 

 tration (Fig. 37) is not a very sightly feature 

 in any garden, and should only be adopted 

 when the circumstances preclude any other 

 arrangement, and in that event the best plan 

 is to plant the head of the bank with shrubs 

 or with a hedge. 



The only other case to be mentioned is that 

 in which the slope is diagonal, and for that 

 no special guidance can be offered, because 

 so much will depend upon the amount of slope 

 and its direction considered with reference to 

 aspect. The aim should be to model the 

 surface in such a way as to secure the proper 

 conditions for horticulture and the convenience 

 of the garden user, without attempting too 

 much work of an artificial character. It 

 should always be remembered that dead-level 

 plateaus on a considerable slope proclaim 

 themselves as man's handiwork, wherefore 

 it is well to conceal as much of this work as 

 possible. 



In some cases it may be desirable to effect 

 a compromise by not setting out to bring the 

 ground to a series of levels, but by merely 

 modifying the original slope to a series of slopes 



