BEAUTIES AND PRINCIPLES OF THE ART. 73 



character of simple beauty ; lofty trees of great age, 

 hills covered with rich wood, an elevation commanding a 

 wide country, stamp a site with dignity ; trees of full and 

 graceful habit or gently curving forms in the lawn, walks, 

 and all other objects, will convey the idea of grace ; as 

 finely formed and somewhat tall trees of rare species, or a 

 great abundance of bright climbers and gay flowering shrubs 

 and plants, will confer characters of elegance and gaiety. 



He who would create in his pleasure grounds these more 

 delicate shades of expression, must become a profound stu- 

 dent both of nature and art ; he must be able, by his 

 own original powers, to seize the subtle essence, the half 

 disclosed idea involved in the finest parts of nature, and to 

 reproduce and develope it in his Landscape Garden. 



Leaving such, however, to a broader range of study than 

 a volume like this would afford, we may offer what, per- 

 haps, will not be unacceptable to the novice — a more de- 

 tailed sketch of the distinctive features of the Beautiful and 

 the Picturesque, as these expressions should be embodied 

 in Landscape Gardening. 



The Beautiful in Landscape Gardening (Fig. 15) is 

 produced by outlines whose curves are flowing and gradual, 

 surfaces of softness, and growth of richness and luxuriance. 

 In the shape of the ground, it is evinced by easy undulations 

 melting gradually into each other. In the form of trees, by 

 smooth stems, full, round, or symmetrical heads of foliage, 

 and luxuriant branches often drooping to the ground, — which 

 is chiefly attained by planting and grouping, to allow free 

 development of form ; and by selecting trees of suitable cha- 

 racter, as the elm, the ash, and the like. In walks and 

 roads, by easy flowing curves, following natural shapes ot 

 .he surface, with no sharp angles or abrupt turns. In water, 



