ON WOOD ANU PLAXTATlO.VS. 101 



'.y unfit for adoption in a smooth, level surface, and the 

 contrary. Indeed, the chief beauty of the modern style is 

 the variety produced by following a few leading principles, 

 and applying them to different and varied localities ; un 

 like the geometric style, which proceeded to level, and 

 arrange, and erect its avenues and squares, alike in every 

 situation, with all the precision and certainty of mathe- 

 matical demonstration. 



In all grounds to be laid out, however, which are of a 

 lawn or park-like extent, and call for the exercise of judg- 

 ment and taste, the mansion or dwelling-house, being itself 

 the chief or leading object in the scene, should form, as it 

 were, the central point, to which it should be the object of 

 the planter to give importance. In order to do this effec-. 

 tually, the large masses or groups of wood should cluster 

 round, or form the back-ground to the main edifice ; and 

 v/here the offices or out-buildings approach the same 

 neighborhood, they also should be embraced. We do not 

 mean by this to convey the idea, that a thick wood should 

 be planted around and in the close neighborhood of the 

 mansion or villa, so as to impede the free circulation of 

 air ; but its appearance and advantages may be easily 

 produced by a comparatively loose plantation of groups 

 well connected by intermediate trees, so as to give all the 

 effect of a large mass. The front, and at least that side 

 nearest the approach road, will be left open, or nearly so : 

 while the plantations on the hack-ground will give dignity 

 and importance to the house, and at the same time effectu- 

 ally screen the approach to the farm buildings, and other 

 objects which require to be kept out of view ; and here 

 both for the purposes of shelter and richness of effect, a 

 good proportion of evergreens should be introduced. 



