56 
place to more elaborate parterres of intricate design, having paths of various coloured sands, and more 
resembling patterns in lace than a flower garden. This meretricious excess in the treatment of the 
parterre had much to do with the revulsion of taste which culminated in the introduction of the 
landscape garden. 
TOPIARY WORK. 
PLATE 106. 
|]HE use of topiary work was first introduced into this country in the early years of 
the Tudor period, and soon growing into favour it became a conspicuous feature in 
gardens during the next two centuries. Although the system of cutting trees and 
shrubs eventually became very much abused, it serves to restrain the undue 
spreading and the amount of shadow caused by thick and heavy foliage, and there 
is no doubt that, rightly used, it invests a garden with attractive quaintness. Of 
the various trees most useful for topiary work, the yew is perhaps the best, and its 
rich green tones and soft velvety texture cannot be surpassed. Most of the examples left to us are of 
yew, partly owing to the fact that it is a slow grower, and, once having attained maturity, survives 
for many years. Privet, box, and rosemary were also used, but examples of topiary work in these are 
not frequently to be met with. The peacock was the form into which the trees were most commonly cut, 
and has always been a favourite device. At Bedfont in Middlesex two gigantic peacocks overshadow 
the church porch, and in a small garden at Haddon a similar peacock sits sedately among the flowers. 
Sometimes biblical subjects were represented, such as the well-known example at Packwood, where the 
Sermon on the Mount is represented in yew, also the small circular garden at Chastleton shown on Plate 23. 
On Plate 106 is given a variety of shapes, several of which are taken from Levens Hall, where 
certainly the most varied collection is to be found. The view on Plate 46 gives a good idea of the quaint 
aspect of this garden. Other examples are from Montacute and Canons Ashby, where the green court 
contains eight yews cut into the form of pyramids resting upon half globes. Two are given from the 
garden at Heslington (illustrated on Plate 48). Another shows the old hedge at Cleeve Prior near 
Evesham, known as the Twelve Apostles, which forms the entrance to the Manor-house from the road. 
Other examples are taken from the more modern gardens of Elvaston in Derbyshire, and Earlshall in 
Fifeshire, the former containing a large variety of pyramids, columns and other creations in yew. 
GARDEN LEADWORK. 
PLATES 107 to 112. 
MONGST the many delightful accessories that go to make up the charm of a 
garden, few are more satisfactory than the figures, vases, and other objects formed 
of lead. The adaptability of this material and the delicacy of its colouring make it 
eminently suitable for such objects, and one can readily recall many instances of the 
fine effect produced by the soft silvery gray colour of a leaden figure against the rich 
green background of an old yew hedge. 
Throughout the eighteenth century lead work, was very much used, both in the 
large gardens of the nobility and in those of the small manor-houses, and there is no lack of good 
