264 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
into the air, and returning down in showers of mist/' was in 
itself sufficient justification. These men who pointed out that 
some beauties were to be found in the formal garden, and the 
great folly of ruthlessly destroying everything in that style, 
gradually arrested the progress of destruction. The taste 
became modified, and further attempts to improve were not 
accompanied by such disastrous results. Great thanks are 
due to those who first saw the mistake that was being made, 
and who then had the courage to try and stem the onward tide 
of fashion. The writings of some of those who first appealed 
against the “ Natural School ” were couched in as strong 
language as that used but a few years before by the abusers of 
the formal style. The following lines from Knight, the opponent 
of Repton, are a fair example : 
“ Hence, hence ! tha,t haggard fiend however call’d, 
Thin meagre genius of the bare and bald ; 
Thy spade and mattock here at length lay down, 
And follow to the tomb thy favourite Brown : 
Thy favourite Brown, whose innovating hand 
First dealt thy curses o’er this fertile land.” 1 
The absurdity of trying to make small villa gardens in the 
landscape style, with miniature lawns, “ clumps and strips of 
trees,” was pointed out by Loudon. 2 He recommends instead 
designs in a more formal style, and gives plans of villa grounds 
of six acres laid out in “ the geometric style,” and others 
combining that with the newer fashions. Regent's Park was 
made in the early years of this century, and Loudon speaks of 
it to illustrate his theories. “ The magnificent design of the 
late Mr. Fordyce, Surveyor-General, now executing (1812) in 
Marylebone Farm, will in a few years afford a noble example 
of the unison of the ancient and modern styles of planting.” 
The flower-garden began once more to hold a more con¬ 
spicuous position, and to be considered as separate from the 
shrubbery, or less formal part, while that again was kept more 
distinct from the park beyond. The planting of the grounds 
outside the flower-garden was also much improved : the stiff 
1 Landscape, by R. P. Knight, 1795. 
2 Hints on the Formation of Gardens and Pleasure-Grounds, by J. G 
Loudon, 1812. 
