274 GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



(2) There should be clear drawings and plans of the 

 work, and two copies at least of each, so that each party 

 may sign both and hold one. 



(3) There should be no variation, alteration, or extra 

 work without the recorded consent of both parties, and 

 this consent can best be noted upon the actual agreement. 



The agreement should also show when the work under- 

 taken is to be completed. 



If, notwithstanding the agreement, any differences 

 between the parties arise, there should be a provision that 

 any such question is to be referred to an independent 

 gardening expert, and that this expert shall determine the 

 question. 



The independent, skilled, reliable gardener can dispose 

 easily of any practical question or difference without the 

 circumlocution, delay, and expense inevitable if the aid of 

 law and lawyers is invoked in a case. 



(4) The agreement should be prepared in duplicate. 

 Each party — that is, both gardener and client — should 

 sign both copies, and each should hold one part. 



Immediately after the signatures the agreement should 

 be stamped. The stamp duty is only nominal — 6d. The 

 general impression that stamping makes a contract "legal " 

 is an erroneous one. It is merely a matter of inland 

 revenue duty. It happens sometimes that if unstamped 

 and required to be put in evidence, a document cannot 

 be so used without the stamp duty and a penalty being 

 paid. 



The specimen agreement which follows may be treated 

 as a model contract and adapted easily to any particular 

 case. 



