i8 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



upon the formal garden with its curves of varie- 

 gated gravel and its thick box edging, its broad 

 terraced walks and flights of steps, guarded by 

 quaintly-carved balustrades and strange heraldic 

 monsters. But it hardly strikes one as a garden ; 

 it is rather an appendage to the house itself, 

 adding to its stateliness, and recalling, by its 

 prevailing colours of buff and blue, the old 

 traditions of the family. 



But what is all very well for public parks 

 and very important mansions is out of place in 

 smaller country houses, and becomes absurd in 

 small villa gardens. However, the fashion had 

 seized hold of gardeners and masters both, and 

 every one must have what was called an Italian 

 garden. But to make their Italian garden they 

 must do one of two things. They must either 

 root up the old herbaceous plants, which year 

 after year had blossomed and scented the air 

 in the old walled garden ; or they must take 

 a piece of their lawn, and, cutting it up into 

 segments, then plant out their nurslings of the 

 oreenhouse. It so chanced, moreover, that a 



