198 GARDENS PAST AND PRESENT 



away from these into unsuspected retreats, and to 

 find in each some entirely new feature. For, sad 

 to say, even a garden may become monotonous, 

 and lose something of its enticement, if the whole 

 is to be seen at one glance. 



Spring is, perhaps, of all the seasons, that one 

 for which, in most gardens, it might be possible 

 to set apart some sheltered spot where winter and 

 spring might indeed meet and join hands. One 

 would have it, by preference, screened by a wind- 

 break of some kind, whether wall or belt of shrub- 

 bery and trees, on north and east; or hedged 

 about and lighted up through the dark months with 

 the steadfast cheer of holly, by choice a standard 

 being left here and there, to give winter glow of 

 berries; but a quick-set hedge, with a sweetbrier 

 or two hidden within it to scent the air when April 

 showers fall, is warm, too, and cosy ; or hornbeam 

 or beech or arbor vitae what you will. 



There is scarcely a doubt that shelter is one, if 

 not the most, important factor in the well-being 

 of any garden, but especially in the early part 

 of the year. Frost is an enemy, but not so un- 

 relenting an enemy as strong wind; and this we 

 do not always recognise as we might. The wind- 

 swept isles of Scilly would grow little beyond their 

 native gorse which, by the way, is never more 

 golden-bright than there were it not for the net- 

 work of evergreen hedges and barriers of rock 

 which interpose to protect the plantations of daffo- 

 dils and tender Australasian shrubs and South 

 African aloes and crassulas which are the glory 

 of the famous gardens of Tresco Abbey. As it 



