DOMESTIC ANIMALS FOR PARKS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS. 



purpose, and that the presence of an animal to run at large in the enclosures, was a con 

 taiuination of vulgarity not for a moment to be tolerated. All this, to one who appreci- 

 ates the country in its true spirit, is false and artificial. An open common, with a hum- 

 ble cot or two upon its margin; the huge Oak or Elm along its border, the grazing 

 cow, the scattering sheep; or 



" The noisy geese that gabble o'er the pool," 



are more interesting objects in quickening the enjoyment of one who truly contemplates 

 them, than a paradise full of such dull, unspeaking beauty. 



Nor does this inattention to animate objects in most cases arise from a grudging of the 

 expense of obtaining and keeping them, but from the want of a knowledge in what to get, 

 and how to manage the creatures which are required for the purpose. A resident of the 

 city, getting up a country place, where himself and fliraily are to spend their summers, 

 knows that he wants his horses. For them his stables are built and furnished, to all re- 

 quired extent and convenience. He knows, also, that he must have a cow or two to fur- 

 nish the daily mik for the house; possibly a pig to put in the "pen," and eat the offals 

 of the kitchen; and perhaps, a dozen hens to furnish the new laid eggs, so dear to all good 

 housekeepers; with any quantity of dogs to guard the premises; and, though he does not 

 think of it, to become an intolerable nuisance by their depredations among his neighbors. 

 His horses — for he is, perhaps, a man of taste in that line — are good, and such as betakes 

 pleasure in driving or riding after; and he likes, besides, to see his wife and children, and 

 guests, well set up in their driving equipage ; but for all the rest he knows or cares nothing. 



His cow, which he knows simply as a thing that gives milk, and lives on grass, is probably 

 driven in and sold to him by a cattle-jobber of the neighborhood, and more likely than not 

 of the commonest description of brutes, and disgraceful to any piece of ground but the worst 

 and most obscure lot on the farm. She is, therefore, driven out and kept in obscurity, 

 and shows herself only to the stable-boy, who drives her up, milks, and kicks her out of 

 sight again, as soon and as carelessly as possible. The pig and chickens are got to match, 

 while the dogs, of " mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound degree," run wild on the place, 

 the only real ." lords of misrule" on the domain. 



Thus he has no domestic thing around him beyond his horses, or dogs, in the brute cre- 

 ation, which interests him. His meadows yield him only a scanty crop of hay for his hor- 

 ses, and his pastures run waste for want of creatures to crop them, or are gnawed to the 

 ground by his neighbors' breachy cattle. He is, consequently, without anything to arrest 

 his attention in the fields or grounds, and the overgrown grass in his lawn or park — for 

 what is a country house without one or both? — must be weekly cut to keep it in good trim, 

 and he becomes annoyed at the continual expense of keeping a hand or two to clip and rake 

 a scanty coat of shrivelled herbage, or otherwise see it grow up rank and seedy on his ill 

 kept grounds. And, what is the poor man to do.' Why, as sensible men do, who have 

 some natural fancy that way, and taste, and economy, and liberality enough to get some- 

 thing worth keeping, and ornament his grounds with beautiful, well-bred cattle or sheep. 

 Deer, as in England, he cannot keep; and if he could, they are a creature of no profit. 

 Neither will our American fences hold them, and they are destructive to every young thing 

 of vegetable growth within reach.* But choice cattle and sheep he can get, which may be 

 kept without trouble, and be a source of profit and pleasure. And premising that our 

 friend, who is disposed to take some sensible advice, wishes to make a few inquiries as 

 to what description of stock he wants, a hint or two will be given for his benefit. 



cannot qui e agree with our correspondent about the deer — unless his remarks apply to our wild deer 

 the English parks are perfectly tame, and as easily kept within bounds as any of our cattle. We do 

 they should not be imported into our parks, as well as Short-horns. Ed. 



