64 



Gardens for Small Country Houses. 



From Chelsea to a windswept Norfolk shore is a far cry, but the conjunction is 

 instructive, as it emphasises the great influence of wind on the design and planting 

 of gardens. There is shown in Figs. 83 to 85 a scheme for remodelling a dilapidated 

 httle homestead at Happisburgh, designed and drawn by Mr. C. E. Mallows. The essence 

 of the planning is the protection of the garden from the fierce and frequent winds 

 that blow from north and east. This would be contrived by repairing an old. barn on 

 the east side to serve as a playroom or studio, and some cow hovels on the north to 

 make a covered way, useful for summer meals or for a skittle alley. The house is on 

 the west, and the garden is open only to the south or landward side, where additional 



shelter would be provided by planting trees, 

 ,_^ ,----. as described later. On the house side, a 



hedged recess with some sort of seat or 

 shelter is planned so as to continue the lines 

 of the house and form a feature and a bul- 

 wark between the flower garden and the 

 more open lawn. The flower garden is essen- 

 tially the old farmyard converted. It would 

 be cleared out, the central part sunk and 

 fresh soil introduced, and laid out in flagged 

 paths and steps surrounding the flower-beds 

 and edging the borders which lie against the 

 buildings. The planting of such a garden 

 would depend upon two considerations. The 

 first is whether it is to be merely a place of 

 summer resort, or whether it is intended for 

 inhabitance at other seasons of the year also. 

 The second considerati6n takes in the ques- 

 tions of soil and climate, for on some know- 

 ledge of these will largely* depend the choice 

 of plants. There are enough and to spare 

 that will flourish here, and care should be 

 taken in making a selection not to stray 

 beyond this quite adequate store. The fol- 

 lowing scheme of planting has been devised 

 by Mr. H. Avray Tipping, and will give 

 many helpful suggestions to the owners of 

 seaside gardens. The soil resembles that of 

 Holland, and the Dutch have now bulb- 

 growing competitors in East AngUa. Spring 

 bulbs should therefore be freely used, for 

 the sheltering buildings will save even the 

 brittle-stalked tulip from destruction by wind. 

 Short- stemmed species may be reserved to less protected areas. The formation of 

 wind-breaks is the preliminary operation. A bank would be raised, behind which 

 young trees can obtain early shelter. Sycamores, poplars and Austrian firs will prove 

 the most successful. Near to the bank they should be set in serried ranks, affording 

 mutual support, and be allowed to grow into a tangle. Further in, the planting should 

 be more sparse, and thinning should be yearly attended to, so that the tress that are 

 left may attain fine shape and good grouping. Where high trees are not desired, sea 

 buckthorn will brave the gales and make a thicket. Close planting in this case also 



FIG. 80. — PLAN OF A TOWN GARDEN. 



