5 4 SUBURBAN GARDENS 
preserve the hollow and the hill and to find a 
way to make both habitable and beautiful. 
Where there is no complicating drainage to 
consider, the sunken garden planned especially 
for winter snugness perhaps, sheltered and 
sunny, is obviously the solution. But where 
water settles, something else must be done of 
course. Yet the very last thing which ought 
ever to be thought of in handling a natural 
drainage dip is filling in. Such a situation is 
never improved by filling, for water below the 
surface is no real advantage, when it comes to 
the matter of dry foundations, over water on 
the surface. What then, is to be done where 
water stands? 
Make the water difficulty a feature by con- 
centrating on it and putting enough thought 
into its treatment to earn and reap the reward 
of a personal triumph and of individuality and 
beauty in the garden. Find the key to the 
situation — and use it. Why is the water 
there? For no reason save that it settles from 
the surrounding surfaces; in other words, it 
drains in from higher levels. Very well; make 
the drainage more complete. Provide one spot 
at the lowest point so much lower and deeper 
than all the rest that the water will settle only 
in it — and make this a swamp or bog garden. 
