HOUSE AND GARDEN 
February, 1914 
131 
have gardens instead of imitation land¬ 
scapes, and get something for the work 
done — either flowers or vegetables or 
beauty of form and line, or all three put 
together? Why forego the one thing that 
is possible and reasonable and honest and 
good, artistically as well as economically 
and ethically, for the thing that is impos¬ 
sible and unreasonable and dishonest and 
bad, in all three of these ways? 
So unless this house which is furnishing 
the first example of garden design stands 
in the midst of at least an acre of land — 
preferably more — eliminate lawn expanses 
from its setting. Emerald turf there 
shall be, plenty of it ; but not in park-like 
sweeps, if you please. According to the 
convenience of its occupants, let its sec¬ 
tions be given up to a fruit garden, a 
flower garden, a vegetable garden, a tennis 
court, a water garden, a winter garden, or 
to anything else, indeed, that is preferred; 
or any combination that meets the taste 
and suits the fancy. Or discard all of 
these for only lawn if you please, with 
trees and shrubs; but let these be mar- 
tialed and arranged according to design, 
and conform to the lines which, I must 
ever insist, suburban limitations cannot 
avoid imposing. 
These lines are formal inevitably — but 
please note that they are not symmetrical, 
of necessity. Here is a great distinction 
and difference; and I hope it may hearten 
those whom dislike of the formal garden, 
as popularly conceived, has made antago¬ 
nistic to the principles and claims just set 
forth. A garden that is truly formal in 
that it is characterised by form and order, 
may yet be much richer in the unexpected 
than the most literal imitation of nature¬ 
like scenes, and may have quite as varying 
features and vistas, if indeed it have not 
more. 
It is formal in this sense that I should 
like to see the gardens of all small places; 
and by small I mean anything up to the 
acre aforementioned. Such formality will 
bring more variation and individuality 
into suburbs generally than present condi¬ 
tions allow us to conceive as possible; for 
such formality means gardens differing to 
the same degree that the houses which they 
complement and adorn differ, instead of a 
monotonous similarity of grounds every¬ 
where. 
There is one thing of great importance 
remaining to be considered — of great im¬ 
portance whatever size a place may be. 
This is the orientation of the dwelling, and 
of its attendant gardens. All too com¬ 
monly builders consider this not at all— 
and an owner only too late; and so 
houses arbitrarily “point” in the direction 
which the street’s direction has decided 
for them, and kitchens and service por¬ 
tions face the sun and the attractive 
views, while porches and living-rooms 
must look out towards the “front.” 
whatever of ugliness lies in that direction, 
and be denied sun and breeze and all the 
advantages which lie in properly consider¬ 
ing the compass and the elements. 
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INGUIStiER 
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