172 OKXAMENTAL GARDENING. 



to be planted with trees and shrubs. The object may be 

 the mere formation of a new style of garden variety, to 

 hide a near approach or some unsightly object. Figure 

 19 illustrates the idea, A representing the highest point, 

 in this instance crowned with an arbor, and the other 

 letters below, show lower levels downward. Such mounds 

 introduced into grounds where the prevailing character 

 of the surface is even, are more difficult to manage than 

 the boundary mounds, or these against buildings, on 

 account of their standing out in bold relief. The emer- 

 gence of the elevation into the general level should be 

 soft.and gradual, a point respecting which too great care 

 cannot be taken. Indeed it requires a great degree of 

 good taste to manage these so they may appear natural. 



In gardens the surfaces of which are generally even, 

 there is not that absolute necessity to have the grade 

 strictly even over the whole lawn, that many seem to 

 think. Certain gentle variations here and there, and es- 

 pecially if trees and shrubs are set on the higher points, are 

 in place in almost any grounds. But attention to smooth- 

 ness and finish in minor respects is as much in order in 

 such cases, as if the whole were made uniformly and 

 precisely straight. 



In larged sized grounds, from an acre upwards, with 

 rare exceptions, a departure from a surface of a gener- 

 ally level character is to be preferred. Of three differ- 

 ent kinds of surface usually to be met, namely : the 

 level, the abruptly hilly, and a mean between these two, 

 the latter is considered the best for making a large area 

 interesting, and abounding in pleasing garden effects. 

 The objection to the plane as a style of surface for a 

 large garden is, that it yields no variety to the eye, in- 

 dependent of what is brought upon it. If strong, bold 

 effects, either in the planting or in undulating the sur- 

 face are desired here, they are from the nature of things 

 very expensive to make. As regards the other extreme. 



