13 



render the ground in the immediate vicinity of the house comparatively dry, 

 (a point of the first importance), and in some degree to create an appearance 

 of elevation, at least in the private or principal fronts, I would sink a gentle 

 valley (figure 7 a) at a con- 

 venient distance, parallel with Figure 7. 

 the front of the house. A _._...______.. 



fall of an inch in the yard 

 from the house to the centre 

 of the valley would be quite 

 sufficient for the purpose, for, W^^^k 

 the more gradual and gentle \ !wfe 

 the fall, the less likely would 

 the valley be to present a " : 

 ditch-like appearance, which 

 would be very offensive to I 

 the eye, and therefore very % 

 objectionable. Should there 



be any natural valley near, : -C ; V: 



this artificial one should by 



all means be made to communicate with it ; but, if not, two branch valleys 

 might be formed (b b) to serve as outlets, and be allowed gradually to 

 disappear or wear out in the distant rising ground beyond. But such termi- 

 nations ought to be carefully concealed by judicious planting, in order that 

 their termination may not be readily detected. In no case should the swells 

 caused by sinking valleys be entirely planted, since a better effect will be 

 produced by allowing the lawn to climb naturally and variedly over a portion 

 of the rising ground. Artificial arrangements like these, skilfully managed, 

 may be made to look tolerably natural and undulated, and at the same time 

 they will give a slight appearance of elevation to the house. 



Houses situated in sloping ground, or that which falls rapidly and 

 obliquely across the front, as is sometimes the case, (figure 8, line a), seem 

 improperly balanced, and have a very disagreeable appearance. Such defects 

 may in some degree be remedied by building a terrace wall eight or ten 

 yards or more, according to circumstances, from the house, and levelling 

 all the ground within it and on the outside, by sinking at the higher end, if 



