THE FORMATION OF A TOPIARY 
GARDEN 
Tue Topiary, Dutch, or Formal Garden, as it is some- 
times called, belongs to a period long since gone by. 
It is uncertain who was the first person to introduce the 
formal garden into England, and it is doubtful whether 
this style of gardening had its origin in Holland or in 
France. 
The present Gardens of Levens Hall were laid out 
between the years I70I and 17043 but it is pretty 
certain that the art of Topiary gardening was practised 
in England before the gardens at Levens were re- 
modelled in that style. 
Before the year 1704, Monsieur Beaumont, who had 
been already employed by King James II. to lay out the 
gardens of Hampton Court Palace, was engaged by 
Colonel James Graham, at that time Treasurer to James 
II., to introduce the art of Topiary work into his gardens 
at Levens, and it is probable that these two places were 
the first in this country in which the genuine art was 
practised. Beaumont, it may be mentioned, was a pupil 
of the famous Le Notre. 
The laying out of any garden in which clipped trees 
are intended to be the principal feature, is open to a 
serious objection—the only objection, as I think, that 
can reasonably be entertained against Topiary work. I 
allude to the very great length of time it takes to bring 
the Topiary Garden to perfection. It is certain that the 
individual who takes both trouble and pains to lay out 
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