The Park in Muskau 151 



could be of little service. But I must accord 

 him all praise for the readiness, I may say the 

 heartiness, with which he, contrary to English 

 habits, bestrode my hobby-horse with me. A 

 very well-recommended English gardener, whom 

 I had also written for, showed himself very serv- 

 iceable in technical matters, but in matters of 

 taste too much a slave of custom, as soon as one 

 left him, if only for a moment, to his own de- 

 vices. Among other things I could not make him 

 understand that groups need not always be planted 

 more or less en quinquonce. He maintained that 

 in England this shape is considered the best 

 (wherein no doubt he was right), and there he 

 stuck. Besides this, the fact that they lack ade- 

 quate knowledge of our language always remains 

 with such people a great hindrance ; therefore, I 

 soon found myself obliged to send him back, 

 which I mention in order to keep others from 

 making the same mistake. 



Much better service was rendered me by the 

 inexhaustible pains and capable adaptation of 

 my plans by my German head gardener Rehder, 

 a member of the Prussian Society of Gardeners. 

 Certainly not a little was contributed by him to 

 the conquest of many difficulties, among which 

 the unfavorable climate of North Germany stands 

 first, which, especially in our cold region, makes 

 the gardener's a truly difficult calling. I make 

 this remark because many gardeners spoil the 

 best instructions because of their self-conceit, so 

 typical of the German middle classes. The bet- 



