STRUCTURAL 129 



level to that of the surrounding ground the verge 

 should be raised or lowered also for a space of 

 from 2 to 4 ft. In fact the verge must be con- 

 sidered as belonging to the path, not as part of a 

 border or shrubbery, and if these are raised the 

 verge proper begins on a level, to run with the 

 walk, and then turns up to connect with the bank. 



Clipped box makes a splendid finish, acting as 

 an embossed outline to a design. Its special 

 province is the formal garden, and by thickening 

 or raising it it may take its place as part of the 

 actual design. Some skill is required to keep 

 box edging in order, and the fact that it certainly 

 harbours slugs has made it less used than formerly. 

 The garden at Holland House shows an extensive 

 use of box edging, and the drawing of a fine par- 

 terre at Shobdon Court (see p. 14) demonstrates 

 the effective use of box for accentuating outline. 

 It may be noticed that the edging is thickened at 

 certain points to link different parts together. 



Thrift is another plant that grows dense enough 

 to separate gravel from soil. Other live edgings 

 such as pinks and saxifrages are not sufficiently 

 solid in themselves ; and this brings us to the 

 prettiest of all edgings the half natural mixture 

 of stone and flowers. Local stone, whether flint 

 or granite, Yorkshire flag, or Surrey Bargate, is 

 right to use in this way. The stones are set as 

 nearly on edge as can be, and small low growing 

 things are planted between and just behind them, 



K 



