ARTIFICIAL STYLE. 81 



their entire removal ^ould be the speediest and most 

 advisable improvement to which they could be subjected ; 

 but as this can seldom be done^ the improver must exert 

 his ingenuity in grouping them out, or in making such 

 additions to their mass as theii' size, position, and the 

 nature of the ground will aUow. 



Artificial Style. — In our remarks on parks and plea- 

 sure-grounds we have hitherto kept in view almost 

 exclusively the natural style in these departments of gar- 

 dening. We woiild not, however, altogether overlook that 

 artificial style once so much in vogue, but which, though 

 now antiquated, is worthy of preseiwation where fine spe- 

 cimens of it exist, and which might even be reproduced, 

 at least in part, in certain cases. It is a poor and 

 pedantic taste which can derive pleasure only from one 

 kind of beauty. The main features of this style, in the 

 park, are avenues and alleys, the latter being sometimes 

 parallel, sometimes crossing each other obliquely or 

 radiating from a common centre ; and in the pleasiu-e- 

 grounds, in addition to these, the principal character- 

 istics are teiTaces, stairs, fountains, and statues. Por- 

 tions of these means of ornament have been adopted 

 with good effect in many well laid-out places. AVe 

 should be disposed to recommend them, as indeed we 

 have, in connection with the mansion-house and flower- 

 garden. TMien the structiu^e of the groimd is favoiu-- 

 able, they form a suitable transition from the highly 

 artificial forais of architectiu^e, to the free, ujiconsti^ained 

 developments of natm-al objects. In the park, angular 

 and radiating alleys are perhaps tolerable only in level 

 situations, or when they can be viewed fi-om a mode- 

 rately elevated platform occupied by the mansion-house. 



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