164 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



convenience will then preserve an agreeable relation to 

 the plantations, and not jar on our sensibilities, as they 

 must in the midst of the most perfect attempt at an 

 imitation of Nature. In this way woodlands, untouched 

 except for actual maintenance, fall into their proper 

 place as one, and only one, of the most desirable features 

 of home grounds or parks, and need not be insulted by 

 futile attempts to imitate, and even improve, their 

 charms, by planting other trees in their midst, after the 

 method of certain horticulturists who fail to comprehend 

 their proper function. To show how these woodlands 

 should be allowed to furnish us with types and sugges- 

 tions, rather than to be interfered with by so-called 

 improvement, it is well to remember that the very oaks, 

 maples, chestnuts, tulips, lindens, and ashes that consti- 

 tute these woodlands, and with which we should find it 

 so difficult to create a genuine bit of woodland, are 

 found of inestimable value in making park pastoral 

 effects of masses of trees and shrubs, and single, slightly 

 detached specimens. 



It is again evident that, in designing the arrangement 

 of home grounds and parks, our first duty is to frankly 

 preserve, without attempting to imitate them, the exist- 

 ing beauties of the place — woodlands, single trees, rocks, 

 knolls, and meadows — and to only add such arrangements 

 of trees and shrubs and flowers as will enhance and 

 perfect the special charms that are native to the place, 

 and at the same time not interfere with the comfort and 

 convenience of the people who live there. 



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