IH OF RURAL GARDENING. SECT. XI. 



Ornamental gardening depends much on the form of 

 the ground, and therefore to fhape that is the firft object. 

 Some fituations may not need it, and, perhaps, a little 

 alteration may produce a happy effect in others; there- 

 fore jrreat alterations fhould not be attempted with- 

 out manifeil advantages, as either levelling, or railing 

 ground, is a heavier bufmefs than is commonly lap- 

 pofed, both as to time and expence. 



Too much plane is to be guarded again ft, and when 

 it abounds, the eye mould be relieved, by clumps, or 

 fome other agreeable object. Hollows are not eafily 

 filled, and eminences, molUy are advantageous, in the 

 formation of piclurejque Jcenes, in which the general 

 principle of ornamental gardening confifls. This idea 

 has been prefTed fo far, that it is contended, a gardener 

 fhould be a ftudier of landfcape paintings., But with- 

 out an immediate view to pictures, no doubt, grounds 

 may be laid out in a way fumciently picturefque. That 

 view may be very agreeable in Nature, which would 

 not be fo in a picture, and vice verja. 



Piclurejque gardening is effected by a number of 

 means, which a true rural genius, and the ftudy of 

 examples only can produce. Thefe examples may be 

 piclures, but the better inftructors will be fcenes in 

 Nature; and the proper grouping ol trees, according to 

 their mode of growth, fhades of green, and appearance 

 in autumn will effeft a great deal. 



To plant piclurefquely a knowledge of the cbaraclcr. 

 ijlic differences of trees and fhrubs, is evidently a prin- 

 cipal qualification. Some trees fpread their branches 

 wide, others grow fpiral, and fome conical; fome have 

 a dole foliage, others an open one, and fome form re- 

 gular, others irregular heads, the branches and leaves of 

 which may grow erect. , level, or pendent. 



The mode of growth in trees, as quick or flow, the 

 time of leafing, and fhedding leaf, with the colour of 

 the bark, are all circumflances of confideration in order 



to 



