GARDEN PLANNING 79 



river so different from the rushing torrents of his 

 own northern mountains. 



Choice of site, and the genius of the place, are 

 the first considerations of a garden-maker every- 

 where. Nowhere are they more essential than 

 in the case of an Indian garden, where the success 

 of the great enclosure depends largely on the lie 

 of the land enabling the builder to substitute a 

 terrace and retaining wall for one of the four high 

 encircling ramparts. This change of plan gives 

 to the garden that double charm of complete 

 seclusion and a wide prospect over the world 

 without the walls. 



A steep mountain-side offers one fine oppor- 

 tunity, the bank of a broad river another. 



The Nishat Bagh in Kashmir and the Taj 

 gardens at Agra are each perfect of their kind : 

 one a stately terraced hillside garden, the other 

 a gracious riverside garden of the plains. 



From the high embankment of the Taj, where 

 on either hand octagonal towers jut out conspicu- 

 ously over the stream, the view of the river is 

 very fine. Octagonal buildings, called chattris or 

 baradaris, mark the angles of the walls in all 

 old Indian gardens. Delightful little summer- 

 houses they are, in which to sit and revel in the 



