DECORATIOX OF THE APPROACH. 31 



sidered necessary^ and its amount should be regulated by 

 the extent and character of the domain. Generally speak- 

 ings nothing more of this kind is needful than what 

 belongs to the entrance-gate^ or the particular portion of 

 the park or dressed grounds passed thi'ough. In relation 

 to this point_, and paii:icularly in regard to the exclusion 

 of exotics_, a good deal of finical pedantry has been exhi- 

 bited by wiiters^ who seem to have forgotten that the 

 larch and the horse-chestnut were exotics in the early 

 part of last century. It may be conceded that rhoden- 

 drons^ lilacs_, and other flowering shrubs are out of place 

 in the open park ; but these plants are out of place, not 

 because they are exotics, but because they are associated 

 with the ideas of cultm'e and keeping which, in the 

 situations referred to, they are sure not to receive. It is 

 certain that good approaches are often spoiled by exces- 

 sive decoration. Such is particularly the case when 

 they are separated from the pastm-es on each side by 

 slender or temporai-y fences. The slight restraining 

 effect which these fences have on the continuity of the 

 park is much augmented when shrubs are planted along 

 theii' edges. Certain circumstances, however, no doubt 

 warrant a greater amomit of ornament than we have 

 considered to be generally necessary. The approach, on 

 its way from the enti'ance-gate to the mansion-house, 

 may pass only through woods and pleasure-grounds, or 

 at most may only skirt the grass lands of the park, and 

 be separated from them by permanent fences. In these 

 situations the sides of the approach, except where they are 

 narrow stripes, afford available space and opportunity for 

 collections of exotic trees and taUer shi'ubs ; but dwarf 

 shrubs, unless required for the completion of an arbo- 

 retum group, should be reserved for the flower-garden. 



