Note 



with variety and breadth, and secured a splendid 

 unity of effect. In the words of the late Charles 

 Eliot, who visited the estate in 1886 to study it 

 as one of the world's most notable examples of 

 landscape architecture, Piickler evolved **from 

 out of the confused natural situation a composi- 

 tion in which all that was fundamentally char- 

 acteristic of the scenery, the history and industry 

 of his estate should be harmoniously united. . . . 

 He would not force upon his native landscape 

 any foreign type of beauty ; on the contrary, 

 his aim was the transfiguration, the idealization 

 of such beauty as was indigenous." Mr. Samuel 

 Parsons, the editor of the present volume, refers 

 to Prince Piickler's Hi?its on Muskau's develop- 

 ment as " so fundamental and comprehensive that 

 it would be difficult to find anything better of 

 its kind in landscape gardening literature." 



Fiirst von Piickler-Muskau was not only one 

 of the best interpreters of the landscape art of his 

 time, he was also a prophet of city-planning. 

 More than a hundred years ago he dwelt upon 

 the necessity for natural and picturesque beauty 

 in great cities, giving as an example the open 

 parks and irregular streets ot London. 



The plates and other illustrations are a notable 

 part of this volume. They include not only all 

 the more important original plates and repro- 

 ductions of plans of the Muskau Estate before 

 and after the improvements of Prince Puckler, 

 but also examples of many of the great English 

 country places which are referred to by the au- 



