PLANTING. 1 I 7 



it rests his objection to the irregular form ; 

 when, speaking of plantations so constituted, 

 he observes, — " When the line of these is 

 " dictated by the character of the ground, 

 " such attempts are extremely pleasing and 

 " tasteful. But, when a bizarre and extra- 

 " vagant irregularity of outline is introduced 

 " upon a plain or rising ground," &c. &c. 

 Now, if neither a plain nor a rising ground 

 be fit subjects for this irregularity of outline, 

 I do not readily conceive that character of 

 ground, which renders such attempts extremely 

 pleasing and tasteful. At any rate, the blame 

 is here divided between the form itself and 

 its misapplication. I will venture, however, 

 to suggest, that the irregular form is appli- 

 cable to any character of ground, if intricacy 

 and variety are essential to picturesque effect : 

 and, indeed, a plain is of all species of 

 ground, perhaps, the most indebted to plant- 

 ation for producing that effect ; and whether, 

 I will ask, are the qualities of variety, in- 

 tricacy, and connection, to be sought in the 

 irregular outline, or in that of the oval and 

 circle ? Upon this principle, I have treated 

 the flat extent of park at Cassiobury, which, 

 having been originally planted with similar 



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