VIII 



ROM the beginning of these 

 chapters I have assumed that 

 naturahstic methods of garden- 

 ing are the most interesting 

 and important to Americans ; and this is 

 the truth. But I have imphed that even 

 these methods must deal to some extent 

 with formal elements, and also that a con- 

 sistently formal scheme of design is some- 

 times better for our use than any other ; 

 and these are likewise truths. Indeed, they 

 are truths which we should be at special 

 pains to understand. Our Teutonic blood 

 predisposes us to a more spontaneous and 

 general love for Nature than for art, and 

 thus to a preference for naturalistic rather 

 than architectonic ideals in gardening : we 

 are not likely ever to become so enamoured 

 of formal gardening that we shall turn to it 

 where landscape-gardening would serve us 

 better. The danger lies in the opposite di- 



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