What to Avoid 43 



approximation to flatness is positively required. But for 

 irregular gardens, with broken groups and serpentine walks, 

 any natural undulations, or even some little attempt at arti- 

 ficial variety of surface, will be a decided improvement 

 to a garden if softly and appropriately finished off. It is 

 customary, however, for persons who do not study the subject 

 to commence laying out their gardens by making all the 

 ground as level as possible. A more unfortunate error could 

 not be fallen into, for character might be better obtained by 

 changes of level than by almost any other similar means. 



15. Needless Drives. — In the treatment of a small place 

 it is further expedient to reject everything that has an air 

 of ostentation or appears only proper to more extensive 

 domains. In many instances, therefore, a carriage drive to 

 the house, although often very convenient, would not accord 

 with the limits of a garden and is consequently better 

 omitted. No positive rule as to what length of approach 

 would justify the use of a drive can be laid down but in 

 general it should be at least thirty or forty yards. How- 

 ever, the extent of the entire place will be the best guide. 



It should be borne in mind that a carriage-drive not only 

 looks assuming, but it tends greatly to reduce the size of a 

 small garden by cutting it up and exhibiting a large portion 

 of it in gravel. From the pecuUar color of the latter, it 

 always deceives the eye as to the extent of surface it covers; 

 an area of gravel never appearing nearly so large as one of 

 equal dimensions laid down in grass. Green is at once more 

 conspicuous and more agreeable to the sight. And grass 

 possesses these qualities at all seasons. Hence, to make the 

 most of a place as to size, broad masses of gravel should be 

 kept out of a cottage or villa garden. 



Where a house is sufficiently contiguous to the high road 

 and its general character warrants such an appendage, an 



