GARDENS OF MANY KINDS 5 
national style rather than the plants grown, the 
Italian is the acme of formality; nothing is un- 
ordered. It is the Renaissance perfection of the 
ancient Roman idea of a garden that not only 
was symmetry itself but was a part of a larger 
scheme of symmetry as represented by the villa— 
using the word in its old sense of an estate rather 
than merely a house. The elaborate design bears 
a distinct relation to the house, yet is quite com- 
plete in itself. There are terraces—which may 
be of monumental proportions—if the opportunity 
presents itself—and much topiary work, ornamen- 
tal stone and statuary. Pools and running water 
also figure prominently in it. 
A garden sufficiently Italian to be so called is 
perfectly feasible on a small place, if it conforms 
to the architecture of the house and there is a 
sufficient slope to permit of three terraces. Mod- 
ification may be quite extreme. Flower beds of 
set design and neatly edged, with gravel walks, 
are more important to the plan than lawn spaces. 
Trees should close it in on three sides, that iso- 
lation may bring out its individuality. Clipped 
hedges may be made to take the place of stone 
balustrades. The red cedar is a fair substitute for 
cypress, while very good reproductions of antique 
garden furnishings are comparatively inexpensive. 
With these two materials, in fact, a short path 
could be converted into what it would be permis- 
sible in the intimacy of home to name an Italian 
garden. 
