xiv INTRODUCTION 



I have endeavoured to give a short list of standard works, 

 with the different subjects which each book teaches best, 

 so that anyone who wishes to obtain an insight into this 

 wonderful and most entrancing study may find "short- 

 cuts " to some of the essentials. 



I think that the quickest way of obtaining a training 

 is by taking a two years' course at a good College of 

 Horticulture, and thus acquiring knowledge of practical 

 work. This can be further supplemented by land-survey 

 lectures, and a course of plan-drawing with an architect 

 or at college. But the important final training is only 

 obtained by personal observation in many gardens, and 

 by keeping clear notes of all that is seen. Then, too, 

 natural scenery should be studied : a morning spent in 

 close observation of trees and shrubs of the country-side 

 is never wasted, and lessons are there learned that are 

 never forgotten, for love has guided the teaching. 

 " Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful. 

 Beauty is God's handwriting, a wayside sacrament ; 

 welcome it in every fair face, every fair sky, and every 

 fair flower : and for it thank Him, the fountain of all 

 loveliness, and drink it in simply and earnestly with all 

 your eyes; it is a charmed draught, a cup of blessing." 

 This was the teaching of Charles Kingsley, and always 

 seems especially suited to those whose life-work lies in 

 the twin crafts of agriculture and horticulture. 



It has been my wish to point out to those who may 

 never have had their attention drawn to such things, 

 where careful imitation of Nature should be the essential 

 aim, and when it may be pardonable to preserve or even 

 introduce a touch of topiary work, how height in a garden 

 is wanted to give vivacity, and where surprise gardens or 

 vistas leading to the unknown will add interest. 



Our best English gardens are lovely with colour-scheme 

 herbaceous borders filled with well-grown flowers. We 



