HISTORY & DESCRIPTION OF STYLES 19 



but if a stately character is required it is better 

 not to combine more than two varieties in the 

 same bed. At Dropmore may be seen a long 

 stretch of formal beds definitely arranged with a 

 scheme of green porcelain Chinese lanterns, and 

 beds of irises, paeonies and other herbaceous 

 plants form the mass of the planting each sort 

 being kept to itself. The differing habits of the 

 plants act (in a weaker degree) like the colours of 

 bedding out to pick out the design, whereas if all 

 the beds are filled alike, or all mixed, the eye has 

 no assistance in grasping the whole plan. The 

 colour-drawing (page 122) of the formal garden at 

 West Hall, Byfleet, is an admirable example of the 

 value of bedding, and of clipped yew for back- 

 ground. 



Water in pools and fountains consorts well with 

 a formal design. A level ground is required for 

 an architecturally treated garden, and this sug- 

 gests its fitness for water. The shapes of pools 

 may vary indefinitely, but they should be con- 

 sistent with the rest of the design, and form part 

 of it. The string of beds recommended for ter- 

 races may be diversified by a string of water pools. 

 In conjunction with the water the low parapet 

 round the pool may be planned to take tubs of 

 bright flowers whose reflections will add greatly 

 to the brightness of the whole. Fountains may 

 also be introduced, but unless on such a scale as 

 to be striking in volume and sound it is doubtful 



