EXAMPLES OF GARDEN DESIGN. 



A larger The terraces, made necessary by the contours of the ground, add very much to the 



detached charm, variety and convenience of the garden. In small places such as this, especially 



residence. when situated in a mountainous district, there is not only something particularly restful 

 in the level stretches they provide, but they also allow of flat walks broad enough at 

 least for two to walk abreast in pleasant conversation, and, if paved with cobbles or 

 crazy paving with their numberless joints through which storm water will rapidly run 

 away, they form a garden attraction which is equally acceptable at all times of the year 

 when it is not actually raining. By using walls instead of grass banks, much precious 

 space is saved and the opportunity provided for a charming rock and wall garden. With 

 this end in view the lower terrace wall is built dry, that is without mortar or cement, 

 and has a backing of earth, as described in the chapter which deals with wall gardens. 

 A layer of well-rotted turf was also built into the wall under each batch of plants, and 

 the great success which has resulted has more than atoned for the extra expense and 

 trouble involved. A marked feature of this simple terrace scheme is the arrangement 

 of rough rock steps from one level to the other, which, though costing less than a quarter 

 the sum which would be paid for the usual dressed stone steps, are well adapted to 

 their position, and, at the same time, admit of tufts of Alpine flowers between the chinks. 

 While the garden stands among wooded surroundings, it is, like so many new do- 

 mains, entirely without big trees so placed as to give extensive shade, it has therefore 

 been found desirable to provide the pergola erected on the upper terrace near the garden 

 entrance from the drawing-room, as shown in illustration No. 384. This feature is also 

 built of local stone, and serves to enclose the small panel garden which is overlooked by 

 the dining-room window. 



The ground at the East end of the garden is devoted to herbs, strawberries and 

 bush fruit, while a few tall conifers in the South-east corner screen adjoining property. 

 At the North-east corner, a piece of land has been devoted to children's gardens, and a 

 site provided for a play-house. 



The part of the land devoted to the nursery business has been laid out in such a 

 manner as least to effect the privacy of the remainder, and, at the same time, so as to 

 allow of the whole being converted into private gardens without serious alteration should 

 the necessity for this ever arise. 



The several views of this garden which are given, show how much has been done in 

 the very short time in which it has existed to clothe it with greenery, and how the many 

 crudities which so often characterise newly formed gardens have been avoided. 



GARDENS FOR A GOOD-SIZED SUBURBAN RESIDENCE. 



There are many points in this plan which serve to illustrate some of the recommen- 

 dations made in the earlier part of this work ; there are others which have a very direct 

 bearing on the designing of gardens connected with small houses. To understand the 

 plan of the garden it is necessary to grasp in the first instance the plan of the house, 

 which has been designed with some regard to the possibilities of the garden, but more 

 particularly to understand the position of the ground and its surroundings. Situated 

 on the West side of the old road leading from the village of Berkhamsted to the 

 Common, and at the top of the steep ascent known as White Hill, there is only one 

 small field to the North-east separating it from the Common. The ground slopes some 

 three feet in its length from the North-east to South-west, but along the road there is a 

 much greater fall, the point opposite the gate being some six feet below the garden 

 level, whilst opposite the carriage court the road is only about four feet lower. Crosswise 

 the ground is practically level, but beyond the North-west fence it falls rapidly into a 

 valley, the rising ground on the opposite side being richly and picturesquely timbered. 

 To the South is a recently erected house, which in a great measure decided the plan of 



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