A most novel book—mostly consisting of tables—was written not long
since by Mr. John Fothergill, artist, archaeologist, and now inn-keeper, on the colour of flowers in relation to date. It perfectly enables the gardener to map out his colour- schemes for any flowering month in the year, without other aid. The ingenious author showed me last week in his own garden a device, a scheme that I believe to be entirely new in conception. The garden is long and narrow, though wider at the closed end. The paths that lead to the end are tapered in due gradation ; and the effect is to exaggerate the per- spective. The paths and flanking borders look very much longer than they are. This, of course, has been done before. Most effective examples may be seen on a newly developed estate near Woking, where the avenues as seen from the houses would deceive the eye of the very elect. It is difficult to believe that they can be as short as they really are. Mr. Fothergill has carried the principle a step further. He has added an atmospheric perspective to the architectural. The colours are graded from deep and heavy reds at the nearcr and broader end of the path through shades of purple to more delicate mauves and other finer, shades. To my eyes this graded colour-scheme converted what is only a trick into an accomplishment of real artistic value.
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