The Art of Gardening 
he can always persuade her to produce 
beauty of some sort, if he is wise enough to 
know for what sort he should ask. 
This, of course, is true only in a theo- 
retic sense. Theoretically, there is no spot 
on earth an artist could not beautify. But 
some spots would demand a life of antedilu- 
vian length, and dollars as plentiful as the 
sands by the sea. Practically, the landscape- 
gardener, perhaps more than any other ar- 
tist, is limited by questions of time and 
money. And his partnership with Nature 
limits him as regards not only the sort, but 
the degree of beauty which he can achieve. 
Nature may suggest the same sort in two 
places, but if she prepares lavishly for it in 
the one spot and parsimoniously in the 
other, the best skill in the world may not be 
able to succeed as well here as there. Yet, 
I say, the landscape-gardener can always 
count upon that perfection in details which 
painter and sculptor never get ; and his gen- 
eral effects as well as his details have the 
great advantage of being alive. A great ad- 
vantage indeed, for it means many beautiful 
results in every piece of work instead of 
