NOTES ON GARDEN DESIGN 151 



of surprise is wanting. Even in quite small gardens much 

 may be done to remove this objection. Screens of trellis 

 grown over with climbing plants, a well thought out scheme 

 of shrub and hedge planting, the introduction of quick-grow- 

 ing deciduous and evergreen trees will suggest themselves at 

 once as means towards the end in view. Indeed the only kind 

 of site which presents almost insuperable difficulties in the 

 way of obtaining mystery, is the flat oblong plot nearly always 

 left without a single growing thing by the speculative builder ; 

 and even this will yield, in a few years, to the natural beauty 

 and mystery of living trees, shrubs and flowers, if they are 

 placed with skill. In large gardens the quality of mystery or 

 surprise can scarcely be avoided, but it may be emphasised, if 

 necessary, by judicious planting and by taking advantage of 

 the undulations of the ground. Water and wild gardens, also, 

 have a very great value in increasing the sense and charm of 

 mystery. 



4. Repose. — Of all the four qualities necessary for the 

 making of good pictures, this is the most essential to success 

 in a garden. Its meaning is defined : " If unity may be said 

 to give a painting coherent structure, vitality to inspire it 

 with the breath of life, infinity to redeem it from shallow- 

 ness, repose may be said to endow it with good manners." 

 The one fault absolutely beyond forgiveness in a garden is 

 vulgarity. And yet how often it is to be met with. Modern 

 villa gardens are time after time ruined by pretentiousness. 

 Plaster statues, basely designed and florid vases, sham old 

 sundials ; terraces and balustrades, dragged in, as it were, by 

 head and shoulders into places where they are neither wanted 

 nor ornamental ; varnished ' rustic ' summer-houses ; cast- 

 iron seats, out of all proportion to their surroundings, abound 

 within their boundaries. Those responsible for such gardens, 

 because they have seen the grand effect of large and well- 

 proportioned accessories in stately grounds, seem to think 

 that bad copies will have a similar result in smaller places. 

 It cannot too strongly be urged that all such importations 



