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high, and as light as possible. They should be provided with moveable tops, 

 to prevent the frame having to be removed more than is absolutely necessary, 

 and in order to be convenient for ventilation and watering — (a small lid 

 would be convenient for that purpose when much ventilation was not 

 required). In this way beautiful plants, too tender to stand without occasional 

 protection, might be exhibited in the spring months in the beds in front of 

 the windows. So far, then, I admit and entirely approve of the formal style, 

 without at all taking into consideration the character of the edifice ; but, 

 beyond this, the formal or geometrical style has no right whatever to be 

 claimed by any style of edifice ; and to copy the stiffness and absurdities 

 of antiquity in the formation of a new place, is not only erroneous, but. 

 absolutely barbarous. 



In no case would I admit, either on the terrace or principal lawn in front 

 of the house, those flimsy fantastical flower beds so improperly introduced by 

 some of the supporters of the geometrical or formal system ; for they not 

 only betray want of extent in the ground, as if there were no room elsewhere, 

 but detract from what there is. An instance of this injudicious laying out 

 appeared in the grounds of a noble castellated place respecting which I was 

 consulted. The terrace in front of the edifice, level with its base, is 

 terminated by three, four, or five steps, I forget exactly how many. Ascend 

 these, and you find yourself on a second terrace, with a parterre before you, 

 geometrically formed with box edging, and displaying a variety of figures, 

 cut up into such narrow stripes, and terminating in such long sharp points, 

 that in some places for a considerable length there is scarcely room for more 

 than a single plant in breadth, and that is in danger of being smothered by 

 the box edging. These beds, together with a faintly dripping fountain, form 

 altogether the most miserable specimen of ornamental work I ever saw. In 

 comparison with the noble edifice they are intended to adorn, they are 

 perfectly contemptible, and make one lament the barrenness of the taste 

 which could either propose or adopt such absurdities. I have said above, 

 that, beyond the terrace-wall, no style of house has any claim to formality. 

 The principal or general lawn should never be subjected to the laws of the 

 formal system. In short, all formality should cease with the terrace-wall 

 (except where it may be necessary to associate with any other ornamental 

 structure, or in compartments purposely set apart for that purpose^. Beyond 



