NOTES ON GARDEN DESIGN 173 



space can be spared, a portion of the garden should be devoted 

 to the cultivation of flow^ering shrubs. Not planted, as is 

 too often done, merely as a screen on the outskirts, to hide 

 some unsightly corner, or crowded together in a shrubbery 

 as though they were of little value or interest ; but given 

 prominent places and plenty of room, air and light, so that 

 their growth may be encouraged, and their distinctive beauties 

 displayed. Few garden lovers who decided to act on this 

 suggestion would ever regret it. 



Avenues. — It is generally thought that Le Notre, the 

 great French landscape gardener of Louis XIV. 's period, 

 first discovered the value of avenues as a means of approach 

 to a palace, or for creating grand vistas from its principal 

 windows. If he was not the actual inventor he was, at all 

 events, the first to introduce them into this country. The 

 eff^ect aimed at is precisely the same as in a vast cathedral. 

 Upright trunks and curving branches take the place of pillars, 

 arches and groined roof. The keynote, so to speak, is 

 solemn dignity. This being so, let a man think well if the 

 house he wishes to approach by means of an avenue is worthy 

 of such greatness. If not, the result will be but a satire on 

 his pretentiousness and lack of humour. 



Avenues should never be attempted except in the largest 

 places ; and even there they seem more suitable in park than 

 in garden. Two points in connection with avenue planting 

 may be mentioned. They should never be less than 200 yards 

 long, or the reason for their being — dignity — will vanish. 

 And, when brought near the mansion, they should always 

 centre to, and lead away at right angles from, either the main 

 entrance, or that front which is of greatest importance. The 

 Long Walk at Windsor, and the superb avenues in Bushey 

 and Hampton Court home parks are fine cases in point. 

 Avenues sometimes line a drive by beginning at the park 

 boundary, and break off before entering the actual precincts 

 of the mansion. In which case they should be designed to 

 start square with the boundary line and at the first necessary 



