S^eps and Stairways. 99 



to the descent from house terrace to sunk garden, or as the ascent from such sunk 

 garden to a lawn beyond. 



Although stairways are among the most useful elements in garden design, and 

 give just opportunity for conscious architectural treatment, it is not always desirable 

 to force the note of formality. .In situations where Nature has been lavish with her 

 wild charms the signs of the hand of man should be suppressed, so that nothing may 

 appear to compete with effects of a kind that no designer can bring. Even in small 

 gardens that are made on woodland sites there is often a green alley over-arched with 

 trees which fleck the path with sunlit tracery. Of such a kind is the example 

 illustrated in Fig. 129. The stone steps there are of the simplest, and show themselves 

 to be perfectly right for their situation. The adding of flanking piers crowned by 

 vase or statue would strike a note of artif],ce which would accord ill with the natural 

 beauty of the scene. 



