48 %an&5cape Hrcbttecture 



"Although in my work at Muskau I never de- 

 parted a moment from the main idea which I shall 

 have occasion later to describe, yet I confess that 

 many portions have not only been retouched, but 

 that they have been entirely changed, often once, 

 sometimes thrice and four times even. It would 

 be a great error to suppose that confusion results 

 from repeated alterations undertaken with intelli- 

 gence, for sound reasons and not from caprice. 

 Rather than that they should be undertaken from 

 pure caprice it would certainly be best to never have 

 alterations for improvement. In general the dictum 

 novum prematur in annum holds good. One must 

 never rest with correcting and refining until the 

 best possible results have been attained; a principle 

 never to be relinquished and of which often time 

 alone proves to be the great teacher." 1 



In addition to the study of the possibilities of the 

 place for use and beauty, in order to secure good results, 

 it is necessary to equip oneself with the data required. 

 A map of the contours or lay of the land is important, 

 not perhaps so much for the landscape gardener, who 

 must make up his mind by a study of the actual land, 

 but for the purpose of giving some idea to the client 

 of how his grounds will look and for estimating the 

 probable cost of constructing them. It is hardly 

 possible however to estimate what the exact cost of 

 such work will be. It is so much the result of a due 



1 Hints on Landscape Gardening, Prince Puckler. 



