96 Landscape Gardening 



surrounding scenery that there is no break to its apparent 

 continuity. 



Perhaps a small garden in the outskirts of a town should 

 have more flowering plants and flowers cultivated in it than 

 would be wanted in the country, as flowers are much valued 

 and produce a more delightful contrast in such situations. 

 It is very doubtful, however, how far training climbers to 

 town houses, in the cottage or village style, is accordant with 

 good taste, especially as they seldom look healthy or flower 

 freely. Consistently with a good supply of flowering plants, 

 moreover, a town garden cannot well have too many ever- 

 greens, for they produce liveliness and verdure at a season 

 of the year when, in towns, the most leaden dullness often 

 reigns in the atmosphere. 



19. Fitness is a variety of adaptation that has little claim 

 to be regarded by itself, and yet it will suggest another 

 thought. A thing may or may not exhibit fitness for accom- 

 plishing its intention. It may be unhappily conceived, or 

 carelessly executed. There might be a deficiency of right 

 feeling displayed in it. The expression of a place might be 

 unfitted to the character and habits of its owner. Its style 

 may be too ambitious for its keeping. Certain plants in it 

 may be out of tone. On the other hand, there may be an 

 appropriateness in everything, even the minutest. The very 

 turf may, by its fineness, freshness, smoothness, and free- 

 dom from coarse weeds, denote the proprietor's attachment 

 to his garden and elegance of taste, while larger matters will 

 always be in the right place and of suitable class. 



20. Appropriation is an idea to be realized in gardening on 

 a small scale, which, though already more than once glanced 

 at, calls for a separate elucidation. It is that appearance of 

 possessing property which, though it may be continually 

 belied by one's own consciousness, is productive of almost as 



