1 88 THE NEW GARDENING 



the reproach that mechanical efforts are too prominent 

 the colour-scheme of the flowers will be progressive. 

 There will be different effects at successive periods of 

 the year, but they will always be harmonious. 



When a garden such as this is presented on a very 

 small scale when its total area is less than that of many 

 a suburban backyard the tendency of the visitor who 

 sees it for the first time, perhaps fresh from the survey 

 of extensive herbaceous borders, wide stretches of lawn 

 and great masses of shrubs, is of interest tinctured by 

 amusement. It is as though the thought, " Ah ! how 

 charming as child's play," became articulate. He feels 

 sure that the garden would please his boys and girls 

 beyond measure. The impression is as of a kind of 

 glorified doll's garden. 



This is very human. It stands for the delightful 

 arrogance of Western civilization. But it is not in any 

 condescending spirit that the Japanese garden should 

 be studied. Genuine art has gone to the making of it. 

 Its lessons of harmony and proportion should be learned. 

 Its grace and daintiness should be accepted as tangible 

 things. The whole exotic, alluring and sensuous charm 

 of the little place should be allowed to work their will 

 with the mind. Freed from that species of indulgent 

 impertinence which warps judgment, the intelligence of 

 the flower-lover will readily adjust itself to a fresh per- 

 spective. He will see in the garden a finished work of 

 art, as conscientious, as perfect as a good painting. 

 The streams, the Pines, the flaming Azaleas glowing 

 with the fires of sunset skies, the brooding and serene 

 temple, the groups of sombre Firs on the distant moun- 

 tain-side all these will stand in his imagination for the 

 great realities of the East. 



The woman flower-lover in particular might turn her 



