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on the existence of this feature. Better have no 

 vestige of it than the odious expanse of road which is 

 often made to take its place. We may consider the 

 view from our principal window as divided into fore- 

 ground and background, of which we can control the 

 first, and, by means of it, modify the second. The 

 foreo-round must be our lawn. Now, just as a sheet 

 of water depends for beauty on the broken and 

 varied lines of its shore, so does the lawn depend on 

 the outline of its enclosing plantations. It is most 

 important to keep this distinctly in mind. The 

 consequence of neglecting it is that common spotty 

 effect where lawn and plantations get thoroughly 

 mixed together, to the total sacrifice of the landscape. 

 To make this outline picturesque and beautiful our 

 materials are the various forms and colors of our 

 trees. We are not, however left to the exercise of 

 our unlimited fancy. A moment's thought will show 

 us that the landscape will, like everything else, derive 

 beauty from its limitations. Looking at the unob- 

 structed view, we see at once that some portions of it 

 are much less attractive than others — probably that 

 some are highly objectionable. These our plantations 

 must conceal ; and we shall find that, as part of the 

 prospect is shut out, the remainder will be enhanced. 

 In the composition of plantations, though it is clear 

 that true variety is highly desirable, yet it is also 

 certain that the nervous attempts to avoid monotony 

 are a common cause of failure. On the other hand, 

 few effects are more satisfactory, more unwearying 



