196 WOOD AND GARDEN 



thought and effort that would otherwise be wasted by 

 being diluted and dribbled through too many probable 

 channels of waste. 



Ever since it came to me to feel some little grasp 

 of knowledge of means and methods, I have found 

 that my greatest pleasure, both in garden and wood- 

 land, has been in the enjoyment of beauty of a pictorial 

 kind. Whether the picture be large as of a whole land- 

 scape, or of lesser extent as in some fine single group 

 or effect, or within the space of only a few inches 

 as may be seen in some happily-disposed planting of 

 Alpines, the intention is always the same ; or whether 

 it is the grouping of trees in the wood by the removal 

 of those whose lines are not wanted in the picture, 

 or in the laying out of broad grassy ways in woody 

 places, or by ever so slight a turn or change of direction 

 in a wood path, or in the alteration of some arrange- 

 ment of related groups, for form or for massing of light 

 and shade, or for any of the many local conditions 

 that guide one towards forming a decision, the in- 

 tention is still always the same — to try and make a 

 beautiful garden-picture. And little as I can as yet 

 boast of being able to show anything like the number 

 of these I could wish, yet during the flower-year there 

 is generally something that at least in part answers 

 to the effort. 



I do not presume to urge the acceptance of my 

 own particular form of pleasure in a garden on those 

 to whom, from different temperament or manner of 



