VI GRASS-WORK 143 



as a definite problem, and designed as an 

 integral part of the garden. And this applies 

 to all grass-work. The mistake of the land- 

 scapist is that he considers grass only as a 

 background, not as a very beautiful thing 

 in itself. Grass-work ought to be designed 

 with reference to its own particular beauty. 

 The turf of an English garden is probably 

 the most perfect in the world, certainly it is far 

 more beautiful than any to be found on the 

 continent, and even the French admitted this 

 two hundred years ago. It is wilfully throwing 

 away a most valuable means of delight to treat 

 grass-work as a mere affair of hap-hazard con- 

 venience. Here, perhaps, most of all, in order 

 to get out of grass-work its full possibility of 

 beauty, is necessary that decent order and 

 restraint, that fine sobriety of taste that once 

 reigned paramount over all the arts of design in 

 England. 



