A TALK ON GARDENS. 109 



broken up by various circular or oval clumps of trees. A 

 serpentine stream was introduced when possible, perfectly 

 uninteresting from the lack of appropriate planting. So stereo- 

 typed had the art become that any one might have guessed what 

 would be the plan given by "Capability Brown," as he was 

 nicknamed, and in fact there was an instance in which this was 

 done. 



The monotonous productions of this systematic style soon fell 

 into bad repute, and a desire for a purer taste began to be 

 expressed by intelligent writers, who had much influence on the 

 public mind. Among these was Gilpin. His works were largely 

 read. The beauties of landscape, the effect of light and shade, 

 the grouping and outline of trees, and a thousand and one other 

 attributes of picturesque scenery were for the first time placed 

 before the public in a charming and comprehensive form. His 

 works were published between 1770 and 1790. 



Other able writers have left us good works which aim at a purer 

 and a more naturalistic style of gardening ; among these are 

 Price, Knight, and Repton. 



The tendency of these discussions was to refine the taste and 

 make it more liberal, the outcome of which is the modern style of 

 today, which in general terms may be called one of harmony, in 

 which the beauties of the formal style are often skillfully blended 

 with those of the natural, when necessity so dictates. 



And now let us turn our eyes homeward from foreign countries, 

 whose governments and conditions are so different from ours. 



America is a country of independent homes, and the laws of 

 inheritance are such that it is almost impossible for large estates 

 to remain long undivided ; consequently it is comparatively rare 

 that enormous sums of money are expended on large private 

 gardens. Such sums are rightly spent for the good of the public 

 on our noble park systems, which in the last twenty years have 

 made such grand development that they rank among the first in 

 the world. 



I had the pleasure, a few years ago, of showing the President 

 of the London County Council, — Lord Meath, who has done so 

 much to open to the public breathing spaces in the crowded 

 districts of London, — our parks and gardens. His praise was 

 unstinted as we examined the Charlesbank, the Common, and 

 Back Bay Fens, but as we drove on through our beautiful suburbs 



