GARDEN PLANS 259 



to replace in detail what is marked down so clearly within 

 the vellum binding. 



Each drawing or plan is prettily coloured, and enclosed 

 in a circular frame with bay-leaf or oak-leaf pattern when 

 some other suitable floral device is not used. 



The old-fashioned, graceful, flowing type of writing 

 which explains each picture adds to the charm. Usually, 

 any extra details are inserted upon an ornate escutcheon, 

 somewhat similar to an ex-libris of that date. The 

 colours used are mellow and soft. Perhaps time may 

 have helped in this, but the whole is such a work of art 

 that we feel there never can have been much that was 

 crude about it. A touch of gold in some of the most 

 important frames is helpful and gives a rich appearance to 

 the whole. Much could be learnt from the perusal of 

 any similar volumes which, no doubt, exist in secret 

 hiding on the book-shelves of many an old country home. 

 A study, too, of old bill-heads, title-pages, and book-plates 

 helps much to that free use of clear and suitable writing 

 which is so important a part in plan-drawing. What a 

 distinction there is in writing that has strength and depth 

 of colour in the shadow parts and the finest hair-like 

 touch in the light lines ! Then a few whirls and flourishes 

 above or below a capital letter are pleasant. It is not 

 only the mastery of the penmanship we appreciate. We 

 value amid our hurried, somewhat careless, machine-made 

 work of modern days anything that recalls the careful, 

 personal touch of ancient craftsmanship. 



Many ladies who own large places and are in the habit 

 of making alterations and improvements each year may 

 feel tempted to have such books. 



There are several different kinds of drawings which 

 might well be included in a similar collection of the vary- 

 ing life of a garden. It would be useful to have in it a 

 carefully drawn plan of each orchard. The exact position 



