HOUSES AND GARDENS 



And in the garden it might be suggested, in view of the labour required 

 in weeding, to decide to give up that unequal conflict and to have a garden 

 composed entirely of triumphant weeds. But in order to do this it will be 

 necessary to choose a site where the right kind of weeds grow. There are 

 many such country places where the flowers which grow naturally and quite 

 untended might well form the basis for a wild garden in which the skill of 

 the gardener would be shown mainly in recognising and accentuating the 

 natural characteristics of the place, for it is easy to spoil natural beauty by 

 the introduction of sophisticated plants and shrubs. But where it is not 

 possible to obtain a site which possesses natural advantages, there are still 

 many types of garden suitable for the occasionally occupied house, and labour 

 in maintenance may be reduced to a minimum by the substitution of an 

 orchard for the lawn, and by the use of paved paths instead of gravel walks. 



In referring to the garden illustrated by the plan, one may note first of 

 all the importance attached to vistas vistas arranged with definite terminal 

 effects. One may also observe the usefulness of shade in the garden as well 

 as light, and how embowered paths may be contrasted with the brightness of 

 open spaces. 



The most important of these vistas is the one which, beginning at the 

 garden gate, extends through the passage which crosses the house and beyond 

 across the open courtyard to the pergola, where it is terminated in a garden 

 seat, and a glance at the plan will show how much it depends for its effect 

 on such vistas, and how widely it differs in this respect from those gardens 

 full of winding paths which never fulfil the promise they seem to convey 

 of some vision of the beyond. On the other hand, the defect of the formal 

 treatment often lies in a certain barrenness, a lack of mystery, and those sur- 

 prises and dramatic effects of light and shade which are such essential 

 attributes of the garden. Open flower gardens are best approached through 

 dim and shady alleys, and everywhere broad and open sunlit spaces should 

 be contrasted with the shade of pergolas and embowered paths. In passing 

 through these enclosed ways one loses all conception of the garden scheme 

 till, at the intersection of a path, one suddenly perceives through vistas of 

 roses and orchard trees some distant garden ornament, or perhaps a seat or 

 summer-house ; and so one becomes conscious of a scheme arranged to secure 

 definite and well-considered effects. As in a dramatic entertainment, apart- 

 ments of the garden full of tragic shade are followed by open spaces where 

 flowers laugh in the sun ; and by such devices the art of man arranges natural 

 forms to appeal in the strongest way to the human consciousness. 



In the treatment of the exterior of this country cottage, a simplicity of 

 form has been adopted which conveys something of that air of repose which 

 belongs, as a matter of course, to old farm-houses and cottages, but which 

 may be sought in vain in the average modern country dwelling. 



The second design for a holiday house is especially adapted for a seaside 

 site, where its simple roof-plan and long low eaves-line would seem to 

 harmonise with somewhat bleak and wind-swept surroundings. Here the 

 use of slates for the roof permits a low pitch, so that, although the whole 



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