Alterations  and  would-be  improvements  of  an  original  design
are  frequently  undertaken  by  young  gardeners  without  any
fixed  or  preconceived  idea  of  the  object  in  view,  or  any  notion
of  the  cardinal  principles  to  be  observed  in  carrying  out  these
operations.  Too  often  features  are  introduced  in  this  way,
wholly  regardless  of  their  suitability  to  surrounding  objects  and
conditions.  A  tree  or  a  shrub,  or  a  group  of  trees  or  shrubs,
is  planted,  a  conservatory  or  rustic  summer-house  is  built,
an  aquarium,  rockery,  or  terrace  is  formed,  a  geometrical  par-
terre is  devised,  or  a  number  of  vases  or  groups  of  statuary  are
set  up,  and  probably  great  pains  ai)d  expense  bestowed  upon
each  separate  work  in  ordei  to  produce  an  effective  display ;
but  all  to  little  purpose,  on  account  of  the  disregard  of  the
fundamental  principle  that  each  detail  of  a  garden  should  be
subservient  to  and  in  harmony  with  a  definite  plan,  forming  a
complete  picture  or  series  of  pictures.  Grardening  is  a  veritable
art,  and  one  whose  varied  details  are  not  mastered  without
much  application,  power  of  thought,  and  natural  taste.  It  is
an  art,  too,  that  may  be  as  effectively  practised  in  the  cottage
garden  or  villa  plot,  as  in  the  princely  domain  of  hundreds  or
thousands  of  acres  in  extent.  The  only  difference  should  be  in
size  and  corresponding  magnificence ;  none  in  regard  to  merit
as  a  design  appropriate  to  the  situatioi^.
