THE HISTORY OF GARDEN-MAKING 



direct, and try to keep in their work something of her spontaneity 

 and charming irregularity. In both types of garden-making there is 

 evidence that the lessons of the past have been thoughtfully studied, 

 and that the need for reticence, for avoidance of any extravagance of 

 manner, is generally appreciated. 



As a proof of the increase of the popular interest in gardening to- 

 day, it is sufficient to point to the great grow^th which has taken 

 place in the literature on the subject. In the many periodicals 

 devoted to the horticultural side of garden work, artistic questions 

 receive much attention, and articles discussing these questions are 

 plentiful enough in the magazines which deal with topics attractive 

 to the general reader. But in recent years there have also appeared 

 several important books like " The Formal Garden in England," by 

 Mr. Reginald Blomfield and Mr. F. Inigo Thomas, which has been 

 already referred to, and " The Art and Craft of Garden Making," by 

 Mr. Thomas H. Mawson, books from which the student of the art can 

 obtain much useful information about what he should do and many 

 valuable hints as to what he should avoid. Indeed, a quite consider- 

 able library on gardening is now at the disposal of everyone whose 

 love of nature is great enough to make him anxious to use in the 

 right way the treasures she puts within his reach. The reign of the 

 faddists may fairly be said to be over at last, and the different 

 schools of gardeners are now wisely tolerant of one another. There 

 is ample room for individual effort, so we may fairly hope to see in 

 the near future a strong and healthy development of the many 

 possibilities of an art which has the greatest imaginable claims to 

 serious encouragement. 



XXI 



