PREFACE. 



THE fact that my book " THE ART AND CRAFT OF GARDEN MAKING " has run 

 through three editions in the short period since it first appeared, could not fail 

 to be gratifying to me, and the very indulgent treatment which it has received, 

 both from reviewers and the large circle of friends which my practice in this and other 

 countries lias given me, themselves often deeply versed in many of the subjects dealt with, 

 has been a continual source of pleasure. Their kindness could not, however, blind me to 

 many faults which I was conscious still remained, even after the two partial revisions 

 undertaken before issuing the second and third editions, and it was this consideration which 

 determined me to re-write and very largely re-illustrate the book for a fourth edition. 



There was also another consideration which made drastic revision necessary. In 

 the sphere of garden design, as in every other phase of modern life, the spirit of change 

 has made itself felt. New needs have arisen and new practical requirements, the out- 

 come of changing conditions, have to be met. As an instance of this, one has only to 

 quote the coming of the motor-car, which has made it necessary entirely to re-write 

 those portions which deal with drives, entrances, lodges and carriage courts. 



In the arrangement of the book, a two-fold object has been kept in view. Not 

 only has every effort been made to deal with the subjects discussed in such a manner 

 as to provide interesting consecutive reading to all who love a garden, but also to 

 make each chapter, dealing with a special branch of garden making, complete in itself, 

 thus giving to the work some of the uses of a book of reference. This latter require- 

 ment lias necessitated some little repetition, which it is hoped the general reader will 

 pardon. There is no part of the fascinating subject of garden design which has not 

 a direct influence on every other part, and therefore, notwithstanding this confessed 

 redundancy, it has been thought necessary to provide copious indices in order that 

 each branch of the subject may be still further collated. 



So much for the re-arrangement of the literary matter. The re-illustrating has been 

 undertaken from a different motive. In the first edition I was obliged to rely almost 

 entirely on perspective drawings to help me to visualize the plans illustrated, for, though 

 most of the schemes described were completed, so far as the actual work of formation 

 was concerned, the hand of time was necessary to clothe the groundwork thus created 

 with a softening and beautifying veil of greenery. 



In the present edition, however, after twenty-five years' practice, I am in a position 

 to illustrate by photographs from my own work nearly all the points dealt with. While 

 this almost exclusive use of examples culled from my own practice may be considered 

 open to the objection that it narrows the outlook, it has the more than counterbalancing 

 advantage that each point shows some problem met in actual practice, and successfully 

 solved, a practical gain of the highest importance. 



viii. 



