THE FACTORS IN DETAIL 13 



site, unless it were feasible to screen those 

 objects by artificial means. 



Thus far I have dealt with questions exter- 

 nal to the site. The next thing is to examine 

 the land with a view to discovering its intrin- 

 sic fitness for its purpose as a garden. 



A house perched upon a hilltop, or in the 

 centre of a treeless field, has a bleak, forbid- 

 ding aspect, which it may take many years to 

 redeem. It is therefore a great gain if the 

 plot includes some well-grown trees, which 

 may be utilized for shelter, and which will 

 at once confer a certain distinction on the site. 

 The presence of old hedgerows and bushes 

 should also be welcomed, as it is often possible 

 to utilize them in the garden scheme. 



The contour of the ground is an important 

 point. Sites, particularly if of limited extent, 

 which embrace considerable slopes are dis- 

 appointing, and present difficulties to the 

 gardener which he had best avoid. On the 

 other hand, variety of cpntour is a gain, offer- 

 ing suggestions for picturesque treatment and 

 giving character to the garden picture. A 

 uniform slope, if slight and in a southerly direc- 

 tion, is preferable to a dead level, as it ensures 



