3 24 Dr. Falconer on the Style and Tajle, &c. 
be employed cautioufty, fince, if injudicioufly, 
or even too frequently introduced, they give an 
air of frivoloufnefs and affectation to the whole, 
which renders it an object of contempt and 
ridicule, rather than off admiration. 
More, I think, might be faid againft ex¬ 
cluding parterres of flowers, which were fo con- 
ftant attendants upon the old gardens, and fo 
rarely feen at prefent. We all know, that feve- 
ral kinds of flowers are exquifitely beautiful, 
and that their beauty and perfection depends 
on certain circumftances, relative to their cul¬ 
ture. Great care is necefiarv, and a feparation 
from other plants, both of which fuggeft the 
parterre as the moll proper and convenient way 
of producing them. I confefs, parterre divifions 
poflefs no remarkable beauties in themfelves, 
but I think, at the fame time, that they have no¬ 
thing fo fhocking, to the molt delicate tafle, 
that fhould hinder their being employed, when 
they are the harbingers of fuch beautiful 
productions of nature. A fquare, or an oblong 
border, has nothing obvioufly ablurd or difguft- 
ing in its appearance ; and as to its being 
artificial, it may be faid in defence of it, that it 
is not an imitation of any thing in nature, nor 
meant to be fo, but folely calculated for utility, 
as an inftrument neceflary to the production of 
beauty ; and, confidered in this view, we might, 
with equal reafon, object againft a houfe, as an 
. unnatural. 
