i6o ' ROYAL GARDENS 



written on a subject of such vast importance to success or 

 failure. Paths there must be for convenience in working, 

 and for visiting different parts of the garden. Just where 

 they should be, of what materials constructed, their width, 

 curvature or straightness, edging, draining and so forth, must 

 all most carefully be thought out. The paths in Norman 

 Tower garden are in every way models of how to treat the 

 difficult problem. They follow, in general, the plan of the 

 garden. They are extremely well made and are paved with 

 brick, and so are dry, clean, free from weed and most con- 

 venient for use in all weathers. They are excellent in 

 proportion, and look in thorough keeping with all their 

 surroundings. Above all they invariably lead to the exact 

 spot required ; and from them, all along, the very beauties 

 they are made to conduct visitors to, can best be seen. And 

 yet, though the garden is accessible in every part, it does not 

 seem over pathed. Grass paths with flower borders on both 

 sides are very attractive, and might be used more often than 

 they are. But they should not be attempted in those parts of 

 the country where rainfall is above average. In the garden 

 at Swiss Cottage, Osborne, there is a most pleasing specimen 

 of this practice. A wide grass path leads over the gentle 

 hill on which the garden is made. On either side are most 

 beautiful borders, partly herbaceous, and partly bedded 

 out. Flowers are seen to extreme perfection because the 

 velvet texture and tone of turf between the borders, and the 

 variety of foliage background close behind, affords a most 

 harmonious contrast to their beauty. Nature would not 

 have filled the world with such a wealth of green, if the 

 various shades of that colour were not a supremely right foil 

 or setting to the gem-like flowers she provides with such 

 astonishing and welcome profusion. 



