278 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND. 



School," were as strong in their language as that used but 



a few years before by the abusers of the formal style. The 



following Hnes from Knight, the opponent of Repton, are a 



fair example : — 



" Hence, hence ! that hagg-ard fiend however call'd, 

 Thin meagre genius of the bare and bald ; 

 Thy spade and mattock here at length lay down 

 And follow to the tomb thy favourite Brown : 

 Thy favourite Brown, whose innovating hand, 

 First dealt thy curses o'er this fertile land."* 



The absurdity of trying to make small villa gardens in the 

 landscape style, with miniature lawns, " clumps and strips of 

 ti"ees," was pointed out by Loudon.t He recommended instead, 

 designs in a more formal style, and gives plans of villa 

 grounds of six acres laid out in "the geometric style," and 

 others combining that with the newer fashions. Regent's Park 

 was made in the early years of this century, and Loudon 

 speaks of it to illustrate his theories. " The magnificent 

 design of the late Mr. Fordyce, Surveyor-General, now executing 

 (1812) in Marylebone Farm, will in a few years afford a noble 

 example of the unison of the ancient and modern styles of 

 planting." 



The flower-garden began once more to hold a more 

 conspicuous position, and to be considered as separate from 

 the shrubbery, or less formal part, while that again was kept 

 more distinct from the park beyond. The planting of the 

 grounds outside the flower-garden was also much improved : 

 the stiff clumps and belts broken into, and trees arranged more 

 ornamentally. Sir Henry Steuart, of Aflanton, whose work, 

 The Planter's Guide, occasioned the review by Sir Walter Scott 

 in the Quarterly, already referred to, was a good authorit}' on 

 the subject of planting, and by his own plantations, as well 

 as in his works, gave useful hints as to the management of 

 trees, and the choice of suitable ones for different situations. 



Thus the garden and its surroundings were again being 



* Landscape. By R. P. Knight, 1795. 



■f Hints on the Forynation of Gardens and Pleasure Grounds. By J. C. 

 Loudon, 18 1 2. 



