50 COME INTO THE GARDEN 



whatever the topography, there is a lead; and 

 though it may hide itself persistently, diligent 

 consideration will reveal it. Hints rise veri- 

 tably out of the ground, so it is the ground 

 that must be searched to find them. Keep in 

 mind that the object in all you do is to insinuate 

 your presence and handiwork into the presence 

 of the earth spirits and their handiwork so 

 gently and deftly and subtly that harmony will 

 never be disturbed; and realize that this may 

 be done only by accepting their mood as dis- 

 played in the chosen bit and adopting it for 

 yours — for the mood of your home. Do the 

 thing, in other words, that is obviously the logi- 

 cal thing, the thing that evolves easily and 

 naturally along the lines established back in the 

 ages when earth was plastic. Low ground or 

 high, flat or sloping, take it as it is; do as it 

 bids you. 



Difiiculties are at once apprehended at this 

 mention of low ground, I know; but there is 

 really no more reason for shrinking from frank 

 treatment in a hollow than on a hill. Bear in 

 mind, too, that unskilled labor can cart earth 

 from place to place and fill the hollow with the 

 hill, but surely intelligence and imagination 

 ought not to resort to methods so crude. Intel- 

 ligence and imagination should be able to pre- 



