Page:Japanese Gardens (Taylor).djvu/13

 PREFACE

NOTHER book on Japanese gardens would need an apology, rather than a preface, were it not that Mr. Tyndale's beautiful pictures, to which my words are but as the tail to a soaring and many-coloured kite, have already made excuse unnecessary.

But I do not presume, in spite of my great love of, and admiration for, the most subtle and highly wrought art of landscape gardening that exists in the world to-day, to offer a technical treatise on the subject. That, Mr. Josiah Conder (who, perhaps I may be allowed to say, was to have written this book, but, owing to stress of work, was at the last unable to undertake it, so the privilege fell to me) has already so perfectly done, that those who wish for expert information must go to him for it.

But while I acknowledge most gratefully the help his books have been, and have quoted directly from them whenever the space at my vii