Evolution of horticulture 



The Formal, Geometrical, or Ancient 

 style of landscape gardening does not 

 present variations which strongly mark 

 the other two forms, both of which are 

 founded on intrinsic qualities that are ex- 

 hibited in natural scenery : " the one on 

 smoothness, the other on roughness the 

 one on gradual, the other on sudden 

 variation the one on ideas of youth and 

 freshness, the other on that of age and 

 even of decay." l The Formal consists of 

 regularity, uniformity, rigidity, and math- 

 ematical precision, developing only those 

 primitive ideas of beauty which are found 

 in regular methods and straight lines. 



How far these various expressions of 

 natural scenery can be introduced into 

 landscape gardening without undue en- 

 croachment upon or violation of them, is 

 an important consideration which should 

 never be neglected. "It may be worth 

 while then to specifically inquire how far 

 the imitation of nature is possible and 

 right. They who would imitate nature 

 1 On the Picturesque, by Avedale Price. 

 148 



