ACCESSORIES 
95 
into clear relief against a wall or background 
of live green. The appropriate symbolism, 
too, of a Herm in the garden, especially at the 
intersection of walks or at a turn, makes it an 
interesting as well as a picturesque attribute. 
The situations where a shaft or column, sur- 
mounted by a classic capitol perhaps or some 
device of interest and beauty, may be placed to 
advantage are very much less common than 
those which will admit the Herm, for such a 
feature is not suitable where a generally infor- 
mal or careless scheme has been adopted. The 
straight, clear lines of a column are distinctly 
architectural and necessarily convey an impres- 
sion of formality and dignity which must react 
against the simple cottage type of garden, to 
the latter’s disadvantage, and which must also 
subject the architecture of the house to critical 
and very possible crushing comparison. The 
column is indeed a very finished and elegant 
object and must have finished surroundings. 
Ordinarily I should advise against using it in a 
small garden, although it is not a question of 
size at all. The simplest garden design will 
admit it, and the smallest space, if it is all de- 
cidedly formal and accompanied by a house of 
real architectural merit. 
Reverting finally to the arch which has been 
