(Barrens 255 



of Rome herself in the wild garden of the Vatican, 

 where in April days ten thousand odorous cyclamen 

 flowers flush with crimson all the moss beneath the 

 trees. Dream on : till you see once more the swaying 

 of the tall vines and bathe your steps with flowery 

 grass in the green Pamphili' Doria, and watch the 

 mystic fountains, most like the form of an inconstant 

 spirit, like a blue-robed Undine, uncertain if to 

 leave her source, trembling betwixt desire and 

 fear." 



Pity it is that so many abortive attempts are made 

 to restore these old gardens in the modern style. 

 Ribbon beds and gay parterres of showy flowers can 

 be rarely made to fit an Italian garden. The real 

 Italian garden is simple and dignified and depends for 

 its charm on a combination of trees and architecture 

 that is sui generis. Far better would it be if the modern 

 owner of an old Italian garden could be induced to 

 restore and retain the old conditions as far as possible, 

 and to add, if addition is felt to be necessary, some more 

 Italian cypresses, a magnolia or two, and other trees 

 that naturally consort with the surroundings; a little 

 more grass would help, and grass could certainly be 

 secured by the use of water; it would be no more difficult 

 than growing coleus and geranium parterres. Imita- 

 tion in these old Italian gardens is to be avoided. 

 You can never give the new garden the old spirit, but 

 you can design the new garden in a similar spirit, as 

 may be seen by referring to the illustration of Mr. Beale's 



