12 ON CHINESE GARDENS, 



ARTICLE V. 



ON CHINESE GARDENS. 

 (Continued from Vol. VI. page J69) 

 Where the ground is extensive, and many scenes are introduced 

 they generally adapt each to one single point of view; but where 

 it is confined, and affords no room for variety, they dispose their 

 objects so, that being viewed from different points, they pro- 

 duce different representations ; and often such as bear no resem- 

 blance to each other. They likewise endeavour to place the sepa- 

 rate scenes of their compositions in such directions as to unite, 

 and be seen all together, from one or more particular points of 

 view, whence they may be delighted with an extensive, rich, and 

 variegated prospect. 



They take all possible advantage of exterior objects, hiding 

 carefully the boundaries of their own grounds ; and endeavouring 

 to make an apparent union between them, and the distant woods, 

 fields, and rivers ; and where towns, castles, towers, or any other 

 considerable objects are in sight, they artfully contrive to have 

 them seen from as many points, and in as many various directions 

 as possible. The same they do with regard to navigable rivers, 

 high roads, foot-paths, mills, and all other moving objects, which 

 animate and add variety to the landscape. 



Beside the useful European methods of concealing bounda- 

 ries by ha-has, and sunk fences, they have others still more effec- 

 tual. On flats, where they have naturally no prospects of exterior 

 objects, they enclose their plantations with artificial terraces, in 

 the form of walks, to which you ascend by insensible slopes ; 

 these they border in the inside with thickets of lofty trees and 

 underwood ; and on the outside, with low shrubberies, over which 

 the passenger sees the whole scenery of the adjacent country, in 

 appearance forming the continuation of the garden, as its fence is 

 carefully concealed amongst the shrubs that cover the outside 

 declivity of the terrace. 



And where the garden happens to stand on higher ground than 

 the adjacant country, they carry artificial rivers round the out- 

 skirts, under the opposite banks of which, the boundaries are con- 

 cealed among trees and shrubs. Sometimes too the use of strong 

 wire fences, painted green, fastened to the trees and shrubs that 

 border the plantations, and carried round in many irregular di- 

 rections, which are scarcely seen till you come very near them ; 



