ELEMENTS OF THE GARDEN PLAN 53 



the garden in the truest sense of the word. 

 The path is for utility, the grass for repose, and 

 both must ever be subordinate to the beds 

 and borders. Hence we cannot give too careful 

 thought to the latter. 



Just how the further elaboration of the 

 scheme is contrived after the positions of the 

 principal borders have been determined will 

 depend upon circumstances and the fancy of 

 the garden maker. If the garden is of con- 

 siderable length it may be advisable to divert 

 the path before it has traversed the full extent 

 of the plot. How this may be done without 

 sacrificing the welfare of the flowers, and with 

 best results to the garden picture, will appear 

 hereafter. I mention it here as one of the 

 legitimate devices for securing a desirable 

 quality in the plan. The introduction of 

 detached beds also is a matter in which the 

 taste of the designer must be his most trust- 

 worthy guide. 



An expedient I have often employed is to 

 allow the path to expand into a square at some 

 point of its length, and to install a square bed 

 in its centre. This is a very convenient 

 device when it is required to effect a slight 



