28 THE NEW GARDENING 



The feeling of helplessness which comes over many un- 

 trained people when they survey a field or waste which 

 has to be made into, a garden begins to pass away with the 

 first success in growing a plant. It is a step gained, and 

 it is full of encouragement. As the knowledge of plants 

 grows ideas for using them grow. An inexperienced 

 plantsman should never tie himself to a design unless he 

 is prepared to employ a well-qualified landscape gardener 

 to supply plans. If he is not in a position to do this let 

 him beware of premature designing. The trained land- 

 scape gardener may be trusted to provide a scheme, 

 which, when developed, will be consistent ; but the person 

 who has neither made gardens nor grown plants will 

 probably conceive a monstrosity. 



In warning the unskilled garden maker not to tie his 

 own hands too tightly, I am not unmindful of the dis- 

 composure which attends working wholly in the dark ; 

 and I gladly proceed to give some guidance. As houses 

 and grounds differ so widely an exact plan of procedure 

 for every individual to follow cannot be given ; but to a 

 certain extent many can work on similar lines. 



The new flower gardening attaches great importance 

 to borders of trees, shrubs, and flowers. In what pro- 

 portion should the three classes be mingled, what 

 kinds should be' used, and how should they be 

 arranged ? 



I have already said that if there is a " view " the proper 

 place for the border is not right in front of, and close to, 

 the principal windows or doors of a house. I differ, too, 

 from those who would put individual specimen trees in 

 such positions. I think that trees should form belts at 

 the end of a house, leaving the front quite open, and that 

 the only trees anywhere near the front of a house should 

 be selected specimens, such as Copper Beech, Deodar, 



