NOTES ON GARDEN DESIGN 149 



design, absence of confusion in colour effects, and by breadth 

 of arrangement in light and shade. The result of sufficient 

 attention not having been paid to this quality may be seen 

 in many gardens, where the details possibly are beautiful 

 when taken separately, but the whole is restless in effect and 

 lacking in reposeful coherence. On the other hand, if the 

 principle of unity is carried too far, the garden may become 

 monotonous. Perhaps the best way to attain unity is to 

 make one definite centre of interest and allow nothing to 

 compete with it, all the rest of the design leading up, as it 

 were, to this particular point. In large gardens it may, 

 probably will, be necessary to have more than one such centre. 

 In which case all the others should be subsidiary to the 

 principal one, and should be screened with trees, shrubs or 

 natural elevations of the ground, in order that not more than 

 two can be seen from any one place. The main centre in 

 gardens of this type may be marked by a noble fountain, the 

 principal stairway leading from the terrace, or the middle of 

 the largest expanse of lawn, according to the architectural 

 style of the house, and the character of the surrounding 

 landscape. Minor centres may be indicated by arbours, lily 

 ponds, statues (though they seem more in place generally on 

 a terrace), sculptured vases, small one-colour gardens, hand- 

 some sundials and the like. A bold group of trees behind 

 or near to these centres will give the necessary effect of unity. 

 And here it may be observed that the position of already 

 well-grown timber will often determine the exact spot in 

 which to create a centre. When there are only small trees, or 

 none, inside the garden boundaries, use may be made of an 

 outside group to act as background for the centre, thus 

 deciding its position. And if, unfortunately, that also is not 

 available, shrubs and quickly growing trees should be planted 

 without delay to become ornamental for backgrounds, and 

 useful as screens. Special care, of course, must be taken so to 

 group the trees that a pleasant ' sky-line,' or general outside 

 shape against the sky, will result. In small gardens where it 

 may be desired to encourage an ' old-fashioned ' cottage effect, 



