84 PARKS AND PLKASUKE-GROUXDS. 



series. Any thing short of this produces an un- 

 comfortable feeling, as if some of the flights of staii-s 

 had been misplaced through perversity, or lost by 

 mistake. 



Note. — We can imagine various more important 

 objects on -^hich the same amount of money can be 

 expended, in ornamenting parks, or pleasure-grounds, 

 than stairs connected with terraces. That now and 

 then such things may be necessary, and even orna- 

 mental, is probable; but wherever they — terraces and 

 stairs, alike — can be avoided, their omission should 

 be no source of regret. They are expensive to make, 

 at the first, and are perpetually getting out of place, 

 in our frosty wintei'S, afterward, — Ed. 



Upper Surfaces of Terraces. — We shall suppose 

 that the architectm-al variety of terrace has been prop- 

 erly constructed, with a good wall in front, and a broad 

 level above; the latter should be traversed by two 

 spacious walks, — one near the house, and the other 

 along the w^all. The intermediate space is to be occu- 

 pied with flower-beds cut out of grass, or placed in 

 gravel, with box or stone edgings. Fountains, dials, 

 vases, and other architectural ornaments, may be in- 

 troduced with excellent effect. These may compose 

 groups of themselves, or be made the centers of differ- 

 ent groups of flower-beds. The character and arrange- 

 ment of these objects should be in keeping with the 

 style of the buildings around. In the case of terraces 

 faced with- grass slopes, the walks should be arranged 

 as in the other variety. The flower-beds should be 

 laid out in grass-plots, or with broad verges, or with 

 raised stone edgings round the figures cut in the grass. 

 Small gravel walks, with box edgings, do not suit this 



