The Formal Garden, by R. L. Davidson (T. Werner Laurie,
ls. 6d. net), is one of a series of six "Garden Booklets," the others dealing with the Fern, Bulb, Rock, Water, Rose Gardens. A "formal " garden must be big, we take it, and when it has this qualification may be very fine indeed, witness Hampton Court. Of course there are but few who are not shut out by this qualification. Still, we can all admire, though we cannot all possess, and so Mr. Davidson should not want readers.—Something of the same kind may be said of An Essay on the Making of Gardens, by Sir George Sitwell (John Murray, 5s. net). Readers it should certainly not want, for it is full of interesting matter, of fine description, and striking notes of observation (as that within a mile or so of a heath where trees can barely live the lemon verbena is a tree of shade). For the most part Sir George Sitwell takes us to Italy. His book is primarily "a study of Italian gardens." But he has much to say about general principles, and he says it very well, in the manner of one who has thought much about the subject, and gained his knowledge in many places.
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