July, 1910 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



347 



and bush. Yet these very plants can tell 

 you more about the texture of your soil, 

 the plant food and moisture in it, and its 

 possibilities than the analyses of chemist and 

 physicist. Study the wild growth on your 

 land, and make it a feature of your garden 

 and grounds. 



3. The perfect garden must fit the laws of 

 design. The plan must be evident, but not 

 too evident. There must be a sense of 

 order, but not an overwhelming system. 

 The garden should be connected with the 

 house, not detached. There should be 

 some symmetry, proportion, balance. The 

 walks should be simple and direct, not 

 intricate or inconvenient. These are not 

 matters of private rights, taste, or fancy. 

 They belong to the realm of law. 



4. The perfect garden must fit the per- 

 sonality of the owner. Any rich man can 

 hire a supreme artist and give him a free 

 hand, but if a garden is merely a landscape 

 architect's garden you can recognize it 

 every time. The wrong way to put one's 

 personality into a garden is to override the 

 expert, for the laws of design cannot be 

 violated. The right way is to give the land- 

 scape designer every chance to study your 

 personality — to learn what flowers you like 

 and dislike, your favorite amusements and 

 your ideals. He ought to see as much of 

 your home life as a portrait painter. His 

 job is to know you better than you know 

 yourself, to blend your conflicting desires, 

 to discern what you will like best ten years 

 from now. 



5. The perfect garden must fit the purse. 

 A good rule is to spend 10 per cent, of the 

 total cost of a home on the outdoor features. 

 But there must be many exceptions e.g., a 

 cottage costing $1,000 may have an appro- 

 priate garden at a cost of thirty cents for 

 flower seeds. People of moderate means are 

 tempted to spend too little and their places 

 for gardening are in danger of looking 



Hunnewell garden, Wellesley, Mass. Japanese yew in the foreground, kalmia at a distance 



This picture and the next illustrate the four things that age can give — size, shade, mellowness, associa- 

 tions. The first three can be gotten quickly. (Mr. Magarge, Philadelphia) 



Ancient box and venerable crepe myrtle in the 

 Wade Hampton garden 



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