74 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



by the smooth lake with curved margin, embellished with 

 flowing outlines of trees, and full masses of flowering 

 shrubs — or in the easy winding curves of a brook. The 

 keeping of such a scene should be of the most polished 

 kind, — grass mown into a softness like velvet, gravel walks 

 scrupulously firm, dry, and clean ; and the most perfect 

 order and neatness should reign throughout. Among the 

 trees and shrubs should be conspicuous the finest foreign 

 sorts, distinguished by beauty of form, foliage, and blossom; 

 and rich groups of shrubs and flowering plants should be 

 arranged in the more dressed portions near the house. 

 And finallv, considering the house itself as a feature in the 

 scene, it should properly belong to one of the classical 

 modes ; and the Italian, Tuscan, or Venetian forms are 

 preferable, because these have both a polished and a 

 domestic air, and readily admit of the graceful accom- 

 paniments of vases, urns, and other harmonious 

 accessories. Or, if we are to have a plainer dwelling, 

 it should be simple and symmetrical in its character, and 

 its veranda festooned with masses of the finest climbers. 



The Picturesque in Landscape Gardening (Fig. 16) 

 aims at the production of outlines of a certain spirited 

 irregularity, surfaces comparatively abrupt and broken, 

 and growth of a somewhat wild and bold character. The 

 shape of the ground sought after, has its occasional 

 smoothness varied by sudden variations, and in parts runs 

 into dingles, rocky groups, and broken banks. The trees 

 should in many places be old and irregular, with rough 

 stems and bark ; and pines, larches, and other trees of 

 striking, irregular growth, must appear in numbers sufficient 

 to give character to the woody outlines. As, to produce 

 'iie Beautiful, the trees are planted singly in open groups 



