ROM ANTIC SCENERY 



In Romantic Scenery we have nature presented in the most ragged forms. 

 The views, generally, are limited rather than extensive ; lofty hills bound the 

 landscape ; broken precipitous banks also peep out at intervals from amongst 

 tufts of trees and masses of indigenous low-growths. Or bold majestic rocks 

 rear their towering heads and throw out shelfy projections, mantled with 

 dangling creepers, pushing forth, perhaps, over a brawling cataract, or a 

 foaming river that forces its agitated course over a rocky bed, rudely 

 margined with bushes and native plants of minor growth, and where is seen 

 the amphibious growth sheltering behind protruding points, or nestling in 

 gloomy chasms and dripping caves. With such scenery the Landscape 

 Gardener has but little to work upon in the way of enhancement. The 

 hand of taste will scarcely venture to act ; but whatever alterations may be 

 necessary, should be in perfect unison with the character of the scene 

 presented. 



Should such scenery be without a natural cascade, any attempt to form 

 one must be on a bold, and even gigantic scale. Advantage will have to be 

 taken of some narrow parts of the river where rocky heights approximate, not 

 only because these may be acted upon with the least expense, but because 

 they will be most natural and appropriate. Massive blocks of stone, of several 

 tons weight, may be firmly, though rudely, imbedded across, several yards in 

 breadth, in connection with a firm wall of masonry, in order to present a 

 compact body against the torrent which is to pass over them. The interstice 

 left in the wall will require to be filled in with strong retentive puddle, so as to 

 unite with the puddle under the newly-formed bank. This bank (which may 

 be formed of any kind of rude materials) must be placed against the wall, 

 sloping from it under the water, inasmuch as it bears and resists the pressure 

 of water which will rest there before it flows over the fall. Stones will also 

 bave to be closely bedded over the puddle, resting upon the rock and the wall, 



