PART II. 



REVIEWS AND EXTRACTS. 



The Landscape Gardener ; comprising the History and Principles 

 of Tasteful Horticulture, By J. Dennis, B.C.L., Pre- 

 bendary of the Collegiate Church of Exeter Castle, and 

 Author of " The Key to the Regalia." " Architecture Sacra," 

 &c. &c. 8vo. London, 1835. 



The work contains some descriptive remarks on a few Country Seats, and 

 interesting observations on Landscape Gardening. A Map of the newly laid 

 out Gardens at Buckingham Palace, and two Views, taken in the Grounds, 

 and a Map of St. James's Park, with a piece of Water, Island, &c. are con- 

 tained in the work, all executed in a superior manner. The following 

 extract is taken from the Author's remarks on the distribution of Evergreen 

 Trees, Shrubs, &c. &c. 



"If yews be planted in proximity to a mansion, for the sake of valuable 

 shelter from bleak winds, they should not assume a prominent position, but 

 should be interspersed with groups of Weymouth pine or bay, and be faced 

 with laurels of luxuriant growth. By such contrast, the gloom of their 

 dingy leaf is relieved with vivid and glossy green ; or, if the contrast appear 

 too strong, it may be mellowed by blending Portugal laurel in an inter- 

 mediate position. In short, the recommendation cannot be too frequently 

 reiterated, to substitute a studied assortment of tints for tasteless indiscri- 

 minate admixture. Let but the pictorial artist be permitted, or the amateur 

 condescend, to transfer his principles of taste, the one from his easel, the 

 other from his gallery, to occasional superintendence of English landscape- 

 gardening, and he would contribute to the production of a living vegetative 

 picture, constituting incalculable improvement in style, and commanding 

 inevitable commendation from the spectator of cultivated taste. Nay, 

 pleasure-grounds thus constructed would excite universal admiration, and 

 impart universal gratification. Picturesque effect, copying and harmonising 

 with natural scenery, elicits pleasurable emotions, even in such as ' know 

 not why, and care not wherefore.' But, for accomplishment of such an im- 

 portant desideratum, science must be suffered to acquire unlimited confidence, 

 in exercise of control; while prejudice must cease to plead for senseless 

 ' custom, more honoured in the breach than in the observance.' An in- 

 dividual proprietor, or a public association, might rest assured of the antici- 

 pation of a result decidedly warranting the experiment. 



•' In resumption of the topic of evergreen trees, for formation of a fore- 

 ground, it may strongly be recommended, while collecting perennial foliage 

 of every species, to permit each variety of the beautiful ilex to predominate. 

 Single or combined, from elegance of shape, delicacy of leaf, and duration 

 of mantling, the ilex constitutes an embellishment almost unparalleled, yet 

 too frequently neglected. Of faster growth than the deciduous oak, it attains 

 expansion competent to the gratification of the planter's eye, with not less 

 certainty, in the ordinary calculation of life's duration, than to please and 

 profit posterity. It should, then, on various accounts, abound in the 

 proximity of a decorated mansion, blended with masses of bay, backed by 

 cypress, yew, and pinaster, and faced with laurel, laurestinus, Portugal laurel, 

 privet, phillyrea, arbutus, with other flowering or variegated shrubs, 



