INTRODUCTORY 7 



with the best arrangement for flower growing 

 in a plot of limited size. Another mistake 

 is to over-elaborate, thereby destroying sim- 

 plicity and breadth of effect. 



I do not intend to enumerate here all the 

 shortcomings of the modern villa garden. I 

 hope to make them sufficiently apparent when 

 I enter into a more detailed statement of the 

 principles which I believe should govern the 

 planning of such gardens. Skilful planning, 

 particularly when applied to gardens of limited 

 size, includes economy of space, or, in other 

 words, making the most of the space available. 

 And this is only possible by giving proper 

 consideration to aspect. 



The craze for symmetry prevails too strongly 

 in modern garden planning. Grass and gravel 

 are allowed to usurp positions best adapted 

 to flower culture, whilst long stretches of bor- 

 der in perpetual shade hold a few starved plants, 

 whose sorry condition proclaims the futility 

 of expecting nature to heed our notions of 

 equal-sidedness. 



Sunshine, the life and soul of the vegetable 

 kingdom, and the very first necessity for the 

 flower, must have full access to our beds and 



