290 



GARDEN CRAFT IN EUROPE 



" Nature abhors a straight line," was one of his ruling principles, and he accord- 

 ingly set himself to destroy the grand avenues left by former generations, 

 and to make his paths wind aimlessly about in all directions, their destination 

 always concealed by an artfully placed clump of bushes. The ornamental 

 sheets of water were either swept away altogether or converted into artificial 

 lakes fed by winding streams, and with miniature waterfalls. The height 



of absurdity was at- 

 tained when he planted 

 dead trees in Kensing- 

 ton Gardens " to give 

 the greater air of truth 

 to the scene." 



The most popu- 

 lar of all the landscape 

 gardeners was Lance- 

 lot Brown, Kent's col- 

 laborator and pupil, 

 better known as 

 " Capability Brown," 

 from a habit he had 

 of expatiating on the 

 " capabilities " of any 

 place he was asked to 

 improve. Born in 

 1 71 5, he began his 

 career as a kitchen 

 gardener, first at a 

 place near Woodstock 

 and then at Stowe. 

 His first attempt at 

 designing was in 1750, when he constructed an artificial lake at Wake- 

 field Lodge for the Duke of Grafton. He was appointed Royal Gardener 

 at Hampton Court, where he planted the celebrated vine in 1769. He 

 soon had an enormous practice, and the old gardens disappeared with 

 alarming rapidity before the ruthless hand of the " omnipotent magician," 

 as Cowper calls him. The formation of artificial lakes was a strong point in 



LANCELOT BROWN. 



