Style and Design. 621 



One of the gravest faults committed by inexperienced gar- 

 deners is the confusion of styles by indiscriminate planting, 

 and tasteless use of architectural adjuncts. A large and diver- 

 sified area may admit of the development of all the known re- 

 sources of horticulture, both in the picturesque and formal 

 styles, including the various purely artificial accessories. But 

 in all cases a lo .vish display of vases and other stone and rustic 

 work should be avoided. It is much easier to err on the side 

 of profuseness than on the side of sparseness of inanimate 

 objects. We have seen this idea so much overdone as to give 

 a small flower-garden the appearance of a manufacturer's show- 

 yard. Where these accessories are admissible, or properly form 

 a part of the plan, great discrimination and judgment should 

 be exercised in the selection of elegant and suitable designs, 

 harmonising as far as possible with the permanent buildings 

 or other contiguous surroundings And, again, in the choice 

 of a design for a pleasure-garden, whatever tne size, due atten- 

 tion should be paid to the natural capabilities of the site, 

 the style of the dwelling-house, and also to the character of 

 the adjoining premises. In a broad sense, then, the plan 

 should be projected for the ground, though to a certain extent, 

 and in detail, the ground must be moulded in accordance with 

 the plan. There is, of course, ample scope for individual taste, 

 even when artistic rules are not ignored. And as every man 

 is free to indulge his own particular fancies, more especially in 

 all that appertains to his home pleasures, it would be idle 

 to lay down hard and fast rules for his guidance. But 

 there is a large class of men whose pursuits naturally prevent 

 them from obtaining the necessary practical knowledge to 

 enable them to select suitable shrubs and trees and decide 

 upon the most attractive disposition of them, to produce a 

 permanently effective garden. And often, too, it happens 

 that they cannot afford to engage the services of a talented 

 gardener. It is on behalf of amateurs, and what we may term 

 the unprofessional gardeners, that the following and foregoing 

 remarks are penned. Th.e proprietors of extensive gardens 

 and park-lands, as a rule, have competent men to direct their 

 establishment, men of experience, who thoroughly understand 

 their craft, and who could learn nothing from us. But it is 

 so apparent to all observers that there is wide-spread want of 

 correct taste, that a few words on this subject will not be 

 superfluous. 



