LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 271 



grounded on nothing, contradicted by experience every day of 

 our Kves that we search among the operations in a garden ; 

 and those who pretend to instruct us show, if we carefully 

 read their les&ons, that the plant cannot be altered, by their 

 changing the conditions to suit it. They might as well 

 try to keep water from freezing at 32°, by putting it where 

 the temperature never reaches that point. Whatever changes 

 are to be made in races, must be made by raising new vari- 

 eties from seed, watching them closely, and trying them at 

 seasons that will show if they advance a single step. This 

 may be profitably tried with many vegetables, with many 

 flowers, but most of all with such subjects as are inclined to 

 sport. All kinds of annuals may be sown in the autumn 

 instead of spring, and if among those that the winter kills a 

 solitary plant escapes, that plant is the one to cherish and to 

 seed from ; and it is only by such means that we can hope to 

 attain any real approaches to hardy varieties of naturally ten- 

 tender races. Many subjects that are now killed by winter 

 frosts might be the parents of better, or rather more hardy 

 varieties ; and it applies to every thing that bears seed, and 

 is now inconveniently tender. 



LAJS'DSCAPE GAEDEJN'mG. 



It has been observed by some writers, that it is impossible 

 to reduce this to rule ; that it must be governed by the taste 

 of the architect, and cannot be taught. We will concede the 

 point that no set of rules can apply equally to all places, and 

 that the features of the ground, the nature of the views, the 

 extent of the area, the presence or absence of water, trees, 

 hills, dales, rocks, swamps, and other features, must dictate 

 to a landscape gardener a good deal of his work ; but there 

 are certain rules which can hardly be departed from under 

 any circumstances, and a good deal of useful instruction may 

 be imparted in writing. JSTature is our great teacher in this 

 branch of the profession. When we see a beautiful landscape, 

 and are smitten with the harmony of the picture, we may 

 safely study it as a lesson. Is there a straight road 1 JS'o. 

 Is there anything formal 1 ]N"o. Is there a square pond, or 

 lake, or river ^ No. If there be one of these, the eye is 

 offended ; if it be not the artificial work of man's hands, it 

 may be wonderful, but certainly not pleasing; the charm 



