International studio (36.1908/1909(1909))

" The Tower of Babel, not yet Bnished.
" St. George in box ; his arm scarce long enough, but
wili be in a condition to stick the dragon by next April.
*' Divers eminent modern poets in bays, somewhat blighted,
to be disposed of a penny worth."
In its ruthless way iandscape gardening destroyed
the bad and the good together, but undoubtediy,
aithough indirectiy, on the work of to day it has
had the effect of checking such absurdities as these,
and also has had a softening effect on garden work
in generai, it has reduced the tendency in some
modern gardens to architecturai formaiity and
hardness extended to the limits of the site. It
has introduced, again indirectiy however, the
very vaiuabie quaiity of gradation from the
severe iine of the house architecture to its natural
surroundings, one of the most important and
vitai things to remember in aii garden design.
Remembering such things as these
it is not wise, therefore, in approach-
ing the question of design to-day to
be too prejudiced in favour of any
one particuiar schooi. By doing so
one is apt to miss some very good
things that make for success. The
battie of the styies, the Formai and
the Landscape (the history of which,
by the way, is most entertaining and
iiluminating reading), shouid be con-
sidered for practical purposes as a
thing of the past, valuable only for
the good which can be extracted
from a study of it and which can be
applied to the solution of present-
day problems. From this point of
view it is most useful; in fact, there
are few things in garden literature
better worth the time and trouble,
so much can be gleaned of what to
do and what not to do. The prin-
cipal point gained, however, by any-
one in search of practical information
is, we repeat, that it is wise to keep
an open mind, one inclined to listen
to reason on both sides,—a valuable
possession to any architect.
Landscape gardening, with its
grotesque idea of imitating Nature in
absurd little toy streams, supposed
to look like the large rivers, with
their crazy and ridiculous rustic
bridges, never gave the garden lover
a hint of what water treatment is
capable of within ordered design
and restrained lines. It is one of

the most valuable assets within the designer's
reach, and capable of producing most beautiful
effects, inhnite in variety of design. There is
nothing, for example, in landscape effort to set
beside the lovely water treatment found at such
places as Wrest Park in Bedfordshire or Montacute
in Somerset. There are also Versailles and the
wonderful water-gardens of Italy to inspire one.
Compare such works as these with the land-
scapist's attempts at "natural" water design, the
" natural" imitation lakes, with their " natural"
imitation humped islands and the still more
" natural" banks, all of which, so far from being
the deceptions they are intended to be, only
succeed in making both land and water look
foolish. Here, again, is clear the difference of
intention between the landscape and the formal


SOUTH FRONT OF A THAMES-SIDE HOUSE
DESIGNED BY C. E. MALLOWS, F.R.I.B.A.

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