INTRODUCTION ix 



Given the same space of ground and the same material, 

 they may either be fashioned into a dream of beauty, 

 a place of perfect rest and refreshment of mind and 

 body — a series of soul-satisfying pictures — a treasure 

 of well-set jewels ; or they may be so misused that 

 evers^thing is jarring and displeasing. To learn how 

 to perceive the difference and how to do right is to 

 apprehend gardening as a fine art. In practice it is 

 to place every plant or group of plants with such 

 thoughtful care and definite intention that they shall 

 form a part of a harmonious whole, and that successive 

 portions, or in some cases even single details, shall 

 show a series of pictures. It is so to regulate the trees 

 and undergrowth of the wood that their lines and 

 masses come into beautiful form and harmonious 

 proportion; it is to be always watching, noting and 

 doing, and putting oneself meanwhile into closest 

 acquaintance and sympathy with the growing things. 



In this spirit, the garden and woodland, such as 

 they are, have been formed. There have been many 

 failures, but, every now and then, I am encouraged 

 and rewarded by a certain measure of success. Yet, 

 as the critical faculty becomes keener, so does the 

 standard of aim rise higher ; and, year by year, the 

 desired point seems always to elude attainment.; 



But, as I may perhaps have taken more trouble in 

 working out certain problems, and given more thought 

 to methods of arranging growing flowers, especially 

 in ways of colour-combination, than amateurs in 

 general, I have thought that it may be helpful to some 

 of them to describe as well as I can by word, and to 



