FURTHER REMARKS ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 53 



which will constitute the form required. In short, as every mass of 

 wood is composed of single trees, so every mass of shrubbery, or of 

 flowers on a lawn, should or might be composed of single circular 

 beds of different sizes. 



Some persons who do not understand the difference between the 

 effects of shapes on paper and shapes on ground, and between looking 

 down on a lawn or flower-garden, and looking at it sideways, will 

 object to having nothing but circles, as wanting in variety : but, in 

 practice, it is found that, by combinations of circles of different sizes, 

 more variety is produced than can be effected by the use of any other 

 form whatever, unless we except small squares or small polygons, to 

 which I have no objection except that the angles are not so easily 

 filled up with flowers as ^circles. To show that combinations of 

 circles are productive of more variety than any other form, I observe, 

 first, that the circles, being always seen from the side of the combi- 

 nation, change their apparent position with every change in the 

 position of the spectator ; and secondly, that when the circles are 

 planted with flowers, one or more of which in every bed rise to the 

 height of two or three feet, the shape of the bed, whatever it may be, 

 can never be recognised by the spectator from a side view. The 

 size and the connexion, therefore, in this case, is of much more im- 

 portance than the shape. As well might combination of single trees 

 be objected to in a park, as combinations of small circular beds on a 

 lawn ; for, as a single tree, in combination with other single trees, 

 is no longer a detached object, but forms a part of the whole to which 

 it belongs, so a single circular bed, in combination with other cir- 

 cular beds, is no longer to be considered as a circle, but as the 

 element of a combination which may form a varied and extensive 

 figure, according to the circumstances of the situation and the object 

 in view. 



The only fear that I have in recommending circles is, least doing 

 so I should be aiding the old system of clumping in parks ; but I 

 hope it will be borne in mind that I recommend no circles larger 

 than five or six feet in diameter, and none to be placed in such an 

 isolated position as to be unconnected with anything else, or to attract 

 attention as single and detached objects. 



(To be continued.) 



