INTRODUCTION. 



Much has been already written on the subject of Landscape Gardening, 

 and by men of high reputation ; but it has generally appeared to me that, 

 having been either professional or amateur painters previous to directing 

 their attention to this art, many of these writers have been so strongly 

 imbued with special principles, or with the desire of producing a pic- 

 turesque effect suited only to the pencil, that they have almost overlooked 

 what I consider to be one of the essentials of Landscape Gardening, 

 namely, the finer finish of Home, or Dress Scenery. It is partly witli 

 a view to supply tho omission, that I offer this work to the public ; but 

 also, because there is, I consider, abundant room for another contribu- 

 tion on a subject so fertile as the formation and improvement of 

 Scenery, on the principles of which many diverse opinions have been 

 given to the world. Perhaps the vast variety of tastes which Floriculture 

 produces, may be another apology for this attempt to develope new ideas, 

 and improve on those which have been long known and followed. 



I admit that the production of a Picturesque Landscape is, or should be, 

 a primary object with the Landscape Gardener ; and that, in order to copy 

 Nature as closely as possible, he, like the Landscape Painter, must study 

 the principles and elements of picturesque beauty. Rut this is not all. 

 Whilst to both belongs the art of producing a generally pleasing effect, 

 to the former it exclusively appertains to give the detail of that which the 

 latter only gives, as it were, in outline. The Painter sketches his ideas ; 



