88 PEACTICAL GARDENING. 



uncommon nor inelegant ; but the planting of the front below 

 it should be so contrived as to hide all the formality, and this 

 can only be done by forming large clumps at appropriate 

 points. The main path, too, should be carried round quite 

 independent of the terrace walk, and removed far enough to 

 allow of planting between them, so as to conceal all the stiff 

 outline of the terrace walk, and keep up the landscape 

 character of the principal lawn and shrubbery. 



Of.^ course, every place has its peculiar capabilities and dis- 

 advantages, and we must always be guided a little by circum- 

 stances ; but the main object, that of making the place appear 

 as large as possible, or, in other words, to make the most of a 

 small space, must be kept in view. 



The principle on which landscape gardens is conducted 

 properly is, that which pervades the most beautiful spots in 

 nature. Landscape gardening is the art of imitating as many 

 natural beauties as possible in a garden, and following nature 

 strictly as a teacher ; hence, we have no straight walks, no 

 square-sided canals. But, inasmuch as nature furnishes us 

 with a reason for crooked roads and winding streams, we 

 must take care and imitate the cause of the deviation, as well 

 as the deviation itself The paths pointed out for us on 

 swampy ground are the highest portions ; the road marked 

 out for us in a mountainous country is round a hill, rather 

 than straight across it. Nature, therefore, always furnishes 

 us with the cause of deviation : we cannot go straight through 

 a forest, nor straight over a mountain ; we cannot, or rather, 

 we will not, go through water while by walking further round 

 it we can keep dry. Water itself winds a de^dous course, 

 because it will keep to the lowest ground. Pour a jug of 

 water gently on the gTOund, even where you think it level, 

 and you will soon see that the shghtest inequality will cause 

 it to turn aside. In this way have rivers been formed ; and 

 there is hardly anytliing more picturesque than the winding of 

 a river, where there is also grass and wood to help the scenery. 

 Now, there is nothing here but what can be imitated ; but it 

 is better let alone than attempted on a small scale. 



We may be told that we cannot imitate the sturdy oak of a 

 century ; then let it not be attempted : but there is generally 

 timber in the place, or in the neighbourhood ; and the art of 

 planting is so to dispose your own trees as to conceal the 

 boundary where your estate ends and somebody else's begins. 



