568 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



practice will obviate the sudden turn which may otherwise be necessary 

 when entering the gates ; a quick change in direction at the outset 

 is generally a mark of bad planning. The choice between a straight 

 or curved drive naturally depends on several circumstances. It is 

 influenced by the length of the drive, by the contours of the ground, 

 by obstacles necessitating diversion, by some attraction worthy of 

 notice, and most particularly by the angle of sight at which the house 

 presents its most attractive features. When the distance is short, 

 the ground comparatively level, and when one need not trouble about 

 the forecourt being overlooked from the road, a straight drive is 

 generally best. It often invites the planting of an avenue ; but this 

 temptation will be rejected when it involves cutting a picturesque 

 ground in half and spoiling many good views. In circumstances 

 differing from those named, a winding approach will generally be 

 arranged, giving an early peep at the house for the purpose of putting 

 one in tune with the surroundings, and breaking into full view at the 

 point calculated to give the best architectural effect. There will 

 be a slight rise towards the forecourt when possible. I do not care 

 generally for the practice of making an avenue of a winding road, 

 inasmuch as it may form a series of incomplete pictures. It is better 

 that neither the forecourt nor the drive should abut on two sides of 

 the house, as it limits the treatment of one garden front, and either 

 interferes with privacy or necessitates inconvenient planting. If 

 the drive crosses a main view from the house, it is often possible to 

 sink it completely out of sight, as at Canons Park. The drive should 

 approach the house by a route which appears to be the nearest 

 practicable, and if an obvious diversion is made for the sake of picking 

 up points of interest, the diversion must carry its own justification. 

 For instance, at Cowdray Park it has been decided to make a main 

 drive which first approaches the beautiful old ruins, for the purpose 

 of obtaining the best view of them, and then it breaks away somewhat, 

 in order to enter a majestic avenue of sweet chestnut trees. These 

 attractions offer sufficient justification for a little addition to the 

 length of the drive, already to be two miles long. At Heath Lodge 

 also the nearest line to the house was rejected for several reasons. It 

 was desired to use part of an existing avenue of chestnuts which would 

 otherwise be wasted ; to pass through a pleasant wooded preserve 

 for a short distance ; also to avoid the view of a range of glass-houses ; 

 and perhaps most important of all was the anxiety to approach a fine 

 Renaissance mansion from the front instead of at an angle which would 

 give a much inferior architectural effect. Such diversions are legitimate, 

 and differ from the practice of wandering out of one's way for the 

 purpose of giving a false idea of the extent of the grounds. Although 

 I have referred specially to mansions in fine parks, the principles 

 laid down are generally true and applicable to houses quite modest 

 in scale with much shorter approach drives. It is frequently 

 considered necessary to prepare an entirely different set of rules 

 for the making of small gardens, but I consider that the inspiration 



