LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 289 



every one of these groups and mounds we may take a useful 

 lesson. We may expand our ideas of variety and propriety 

 according as the scene pleases or annoys us. It is by visiting 

 established gardens, with a view to criticise them, that we can 

 learn what to avoid. A man determined to learn, will, in his 

 visits, see many of the extravagances which we have pointed 

 out as objectionable, and will at once see the justice of our 

 condemnation. 



Although a valley is almost always the companion of 

 a mound, or something more, we must treat of them 

 separately. 



Valleys and Low Grounds. — The management of valleys 

 is just the converse of mounds ; but we have to aim at great 

 ones, for mere hollows, as if the earth had been robbed of its 

 soil, are eyesores, and must be got rid of. If, as is not un- 

 common, there is a hollow or vaUey running across an estate, 

 it may be questioned whether it could be improved or should 

 be destroyed. These are often wet in the M^nter, and almost 

 a river of water ; and if so, some means must be provided for 

 getting rid of tliis, by constructing drainage before we can 

 either fill up or break the stiffness of the line, if it be so. If 

 it be a decided hollow, with rising ground all round it, the 

 bottom must be the receptacle for all the rains and draining 

 of the surroimding ground, and part of the year, at least, par- 

 tially filled with water. This must be unproved or got rid of ; 

 an unmeaning swamp at the bottom of a hoUow is not to be 

 tolerated : make it water, if it cannot be drained ; and if 

 neither can be done, fill up, as far as it is practicable, with 

 stones and any other rough material, as far as you can, and 

 lessen the hollow as much as possible, by raising it in the 

 middle, and at least forming a shallower basin, which will be 

 dry, because it will drain into the rough stuff as fast as it runs 

 down. But, presuming it to be of any bold and formidable 

 extent, at once make a piece of water there, by puddling it 

 well as far as the water is to reach, then drain all the sur- 

 rounding land into it, and otherwise keep up the supply ; 

 give some consistency of form, plant the sides appropriately, 

 construct a small boat-house which shall be ornamental, and 

 plant with water-lilies and other aquatic plants ; convert the 

 banks, or sides at least, along a portion of its margin, into 

 rock-work, or adopt any means to render it a feature. But 

 all small hollows must be filled up ; there is nothing more 



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