252 GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



planted some six feet apart upon the southern line of a path. 

 Often, too, they are on the south side of a wall, and then 

 both the wall and the tree-stems cast a shadow on the 

 path. The whole countryside seems full of interest with 

 these stately deep green outlines. We wonder so where 

 the avenues lead to, what the sunburnt peasant folk are 

 carrying along their shadow-walks, and whether they walk 

 in sorrow or joy. Thus comes to us the idea that it is 

 good, against the bank or wall which forms a terrace in a 

 hill garden, to have sentinel Irish yews placed at regular 

 intervals. This tree, from the point of view of colour and 

 habit of growth, is the nearest approach to an Italian 

 cypress. It is apt to be relegated too much to church- 

 yards, and is not sufficiently used to strengthen shadow 

 effects in the pleasure-ground. 



Near the Arno, and farther north towards Lombardy, 

 the tall, straight poplar avenues, not cut back but allowed 

 to grow to their natural height, show what pictures can be 

 made with them on river banks, and the groves of 

 acacias, with light foliage waving in the slightest breeze, 

 give an idea of what simple opportunities we allow to 

 slip by in not planting them more freely. Why, too, do 

 we not have the Judas-tree? In many parts of England 

 large groups of the pink-flowered shrub would do well, 

 and we could put it near ilex-trees, which would resemble 

 the olive or cypress background we seem to see it against 

 in our dream-thoughts. Then, again, at Milan, have we 

 not seen the big groups of Spircea thunbergi and Cydonia 

 japonica, in beds surrounded by grass, and felt how many 

 a large expanse of English lawn could be beautified by 

 having these near it ? (Fig. 130.) 



Thus after a tour in foreign countries we return 

 inspired and able to observe more readily the happy 

 effects achieved in our own parks and woods. 



The following notes may be useful ; but in each case 



