LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 277 



Rows of timber must be so broken as to remove everything 

 like stiffness. There must not be a single line cross the eye. 

 Throw all the worst trees. Save in groups or single trees all 

 that are in themselves ornamental, and that may perchance 

 be worked into the scene. If hedges have been neglected, 

 there may be good clumps of thorn and other wood usually 

 found in hedges, and grown up to a considerable height, and 

 what the gardeners call well furnished — that is, branches 

 reaching to the ground, clumps of trees formed as it were by 

 neglect, but nevertheless rich in themselves. They can at 

 any time be grubbed up, but in the mean time let them remain 

 wherever they are sufficiently handsome. Let this clearance 

 go on all over the site intended to be brought into the land- 

 scape. We may then consider where the entrances are to be, 

 from one or more roads ; and we have also to consider what 

 foot-paths or roads there may be of a public nature that may 

 not be shut up ; and while there may be parts left open to the 

 view, large parts must be shut out by mound, planting or 

 other contrivances, and the whole secured to its own track 

 only by sunk fencing where the view is required across it. 



Our next consideration is, whether we can with advantage 

 to the estate, and without detriment to the public, turn the 

 course of such paths or roads, for they are nuisances at the 

 best of times, and the further they are removed from the 

 mansion, the better. To obtain a good view of the whole, we 

 must contrive to see it from the highest places, and with such 

 heljDS as are at hand. The top windows or roof of the house, 

 or on a high tree, or, if necessary, a temporary scaffolding, 

 must be placed in the best situation. Our plan must be 

 formed then, though not reduced to paper. If the ground be 

 much diversified with hill and dale, the levels must be taken. 

 Undulating ground is very picturesque, but the roads must 

 be cut level, and the sides where the cuttings go through must 

 be formed into sloping banks ; but if the ground be a regular 

 slope, or up a long hill and down again, you must consider 

 first whether the expense of so long a cutting would be ad- 

 visable, and second, whether it will forward or derange your 

 picture. Sloping banks for part of the length of a road are 

 very effective. There is nothing prettier than to emerge from 

 such a cutting ; but the banks must be judiciously planted 

 here and there, and they must be neatly contrived to make 

 them picturesque. According as you mean to use or destroy 



