THE TERRACE. 25 



sensibly estimates the height from the line of gravel below. The 

 space between the edge of a terrace walk and the upper edge of 

 its outer slope may not be less than 6 ft., but that between the 

 bottom of a slope and the edge of a walk may be as little as i ft. 6 in. 

 Generally slopes should be made in the ratio of 2^ to i if above 

 i ft. 6 in. in depth. In large places, or where importance is required, 

 and the depth is not less than 3 ft., the slope should be 2}^ to i ; 

 smaller slopes, such as for sunk panels, etc., will not have a ratio 

 of more than \y 2 to i. Terrace slopes should not have a greater 

 depth than 5 to 6ft. Where a greater depth is needed, two slopes 

 should be made with a level width between them of not less 

 than 4 ft. 



The arrangement of parterres in the terrace garden should always 

 be formal. It will generally be found that there is some detail in 

 the house itself, or connected with the period of its architecture, 

 that may be used to characterise the arrangement of walks or beds, 

 apart from the strict design of terrace walls, steps, or balustrades. 

 The terrace garden is viewed chiefly from the house, where the 

 spectator's eye is 5 ft. above the floor-line ; therefore, in designing 

 the beds for flowers or foliage plants, such beds should not be 

 placed too near the house ; they should be even in width, with as 

 few acute angles as possible; longer than wide, as seen from the 

 house. If surrounded by gravel, the spaces of bed and of gravel 

 should be evenly disposed. Besides bedding plants, evergreen dwarf 

 foliage plants may be largely introduced, and precise designs of 

 clipped ..box and yew are not out of place, if the building has a 

 character that is consonant with such accompaniment. Of foliage 

 plants, those only should be selected that are dwarf in habit and 

 grow evenly. The whole arrangement in this position is artificial, 

 and this is a place where the recurrence to old fashions in gardening 



