372 DRESSED OR GEOMETRICAL GARDENS. Pabt III. 



purple (like the purple verbenas) and a sufficient quantity 

 of white, which may often be introduced very advanta- 

 geously, as it brightens the general aspect of the coloured 

 design. 



One of the greatest elements of beauty in a garden is form, 

 and it is of paramount importance that it should be in 

 accordance with true principles. This too should regulate the 

 mode of planting trees ; and nothing has a more disagreeable 

 effect than a number of single trees dotted about here and 

 there in the grounds without any regard to their relative 

 position, or their accordance with the surrounding features 

 of the landscape and the nature of the ground. They should 

 be planted in masses and groups, not singly ; they should 

 be part of a general design, and not look as if fallen acci- 

 dentally into their isolated position. And this shows how 

 mistaken is the now obsolete notion that nature is to be 

 copied, and that everything in grounds and gardens is to 

 mimic her fortuitous wildness. Whatever may be the 

 supposed imitation it is always unlike nature ; and it is 

 better at once to renounce any attempt to combine two 

 distinct 'motives. A wood may be wild (as it ought to be), 

 and it may have a natural appearance ; but the artificial 

 grounds can never resemble nature ; and while they need not 

 assume unnecessary formality, they should seek to be beau- 

 tiful by proper arrangement rather than affect a character 

 they cannot maintain. 



If design and good form are so necessary there, it is very 

 obvious that they are the very soul of a dressed garden; 

 and the study of form is not only of importance in the 

 garden, because it is less changeable than colour, but be- 

 cause even in winter the beauty of geometrical patterns 

 remains when the . colours of the flowers are entirely gone, 

 and nothing is left beyond the sad recollection of their faded 

 beauties. And this is one of the greatest advantages that 



