CHAPTER III 
THE SELECTION OF A SITE 
THERE are few points connected with the art of 
garden design over which greater differences of opinion 
are likely to arise, than those associated with the 
preliminary consideration—choice of site. For this 
reason, the present chapter must inevitably prove more 
suggestive than dogmatic; less concerned with particular 
instances, than with the broader aspect of the question. 
It is rare, indeed, to find two persons, each about to 
build a residence and lay out a garden, whose ideas as 
to the most desirable site for the purpose are in any 
way concurrent. One prefers an elevated situation 
from which a good view of the surrounding country 
may be obtained; the other dislikes the labour of 
climbing, and must perforce live in the valley. The 
proximity of other buildings, giving a sense of com- 
panionship and security, is essential to some; others, 
again, seek no better society than that of the woods and 
silent heath. A man’s profession or hobby will con- 
siderably influence his choice of locality for a home: 
the city man must live near a good train service, the 
ardent golfer’s first thought is for easy access to the 
links. Instances could be multiplied ad jinitum, all 
clearly pointing to one end, namely this: that it is 
useless to regard any one position as ideal, such a con- 
clusion only being possible when we are fully cognisant 
of the peculiarities of the individual for whom we are 
working. However, there are certain characteristics 
ar 
