HOME LANDSCAPES:1'
MR. Roransozt objects vehemently to the Italian style of garden, and to emphasize his dislike he has compiled this book of photographs of the landscape gardening that he has carried out round his house in Sussex. His great vogue as the prophet of naturalistic gardening has been superseded in the inevitable whirligig of time by more formal architectural work in the Italian manner. These two styles are not really antagonistic to each other, for has not Miss Jekyll known
• Chris:is:mend Ter Chitdren, London: Longman. and Ca. Ds. net.]
I Home Landscapes. By W. Robinson. Ilituriaated with Bun Pictures take.: m the Farms, Woods. and Pleumre Grounds of Graretye Manor by Georg* Champion. London: dohn Mural. [52125. N. net.] iow to adapt the beauties of both so an to achieve a more Interesting and harmonious result than could be obtained by the observance of the bard-and-fast rules of either naturalists or formalists P But Mr. Robinson will not consider the uses of compromise. "From our British point of view, then, and judging fairly by results, the Italian influence has been wholly evil." "Heaps of money wasted in unprofitable show," be laments, as be thinks of Chatsworth and the Crystal Palace ; but he makes no allowance for the inevitable badness of such feeble topic di topic. The many large photographs, or 'sun pictures," as he prefers to call them, which are here reproduced, are characterized by the swept and garnished appearance which a good lens and accurate focussing impart to a landscape. But this mechanical success fails to rouse our interest, and we long for either art or nature, and not merely for technical perfection. A few pages at the end of the book are devoted to the subjects of "Planting by Lakes and Rivers," "Earth Bridges," and "Rock Gardens of the Future?' Here, as in his other references to the practical side of the gardening arts, the reader will be able to profit from Mr. Robinson's wide experience in the choice of plants that are likely to flourish in a particular soil and aspect. Where building is to be undertaken, such, for instance, as putting up a bridge or a boathouse, his advice is also good. "Keep to local material and quiet colours," be says ; and he also points out the advantage of employing reinforced concrete. The volume is beautifully bound in white cloth and cream-coloured parch- ment, and is printed by the Chiswick Press.
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