CHAPTER XXXI 



LAWNS AND PLAYGROUNDS. 



THE lawn is the heart of the true British garden, and of all forms 

 of garden the freest and, may be, the most varied and charming, adapted 

 as it is to all sorts of areas from that around the smallest house. It is 

 above all things the English form of garden made best in the rich level 

 valley land, and, with the least amount of trouble and labour to make or 

 keep it, certainly gives the best result in effect. The terrace garden 

 we have seen, in its origin and best meaning, arises from wholly different 

 sort of ground from that on which we make a lawn. If the Italians 

 and others who built on hills to avoid malaria had had healthy and 

 level ground they would have been very glad of it, and thought it 

 beautiful. With the lawn there is little or no trouble in securing fine 

 background effects, variety, pretty dividing lines, recesses for any 

 favourites we may have in the way of flowers, freedom, relief, air and 

 breadth. There is room on the lawn for every flower and tree, from 

 the cedar, and the group of fruit trees planted for the beauty of their 

 flowers and fruit, down to rich beds of lilies or smaller flowers. 



One of the most foolish dogmas ever laid down about a garden is 

 that made in a recent book by an architect, in which we are told emphat- 

 ically that there is no such thing as a garden to be made except 

 within four walls. Many of the most beautiful gardens in the British 

 Isles are without any aid but a background of trees and evergreens, 

 and no trace of walls, which are absolutely needless in many situa- 

 tions to get the most artistic results in a garden. And lovely gardens 

 may be made around lawns without marring the breadth and airiness 

 which is the charm of a lawn, or in the least interfering with the use of 

 its open parts as a playground. 



CLIMBER-COVERED ALLEYS AROUND PLAY LAWNS. Where 

 there is space enough there are reasons in country places for 



