ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 109 



a charming variety in the scene, either when seen from a 

 given point or when examined in detail. It must not be 

 forgotten that, as a general rule, the grass or surface of 

 the lawn answers as the principal light, and the woods or 

 plantations as the shadows, in the same manner in nature 

 as in painting ; and that these should be so managed as to 

 lead the eye to the mansion as the most important object 

 when seen from without, or correspond to it in grandeur 

 and magnitude, when looked upon from within the house. 

 If the surface is too much crowded with groups of foliage, 

 breadth of light will be found wanting ; if left too bare, 

 there will be felt, on the other hand, an absence of the 

 noble effect of deep and broad shadows. 



One of the loveliest charms of a fine park is, undoubted- 

 ly, variation or undulation of surface. Everything, 

 accordingly, which tends to preserve and strengthen this 

 pleasing character, should be kept constantlv in view. 

 Where, therefore, there are no obvious objections to such 

 a course, the eminences, gentle swells, or hills, should be 

 planted, in preference to the hollows or depressions. By 

 planting the elevated portions of the grounds, their 

 apparent height is increased ; but by planting the hollows, 

 all distinction is lessened and broken up. Indeed, where 

 there is but a trifling and scarcely perceptible undulation, 

 the importance of the swells of surface already existing is 

 surprisingly increased, when this course of planting is 

 adopted ; and the whole, to the eye, appears finely 

 varied. 



Where the grounds of the residence to be planted are 

 level, or nearly so, and it is desirable to confine the view, 

 on any or all sides, to the lawn or park itself, the boundary 

 groups and masses must be so connected together as, from 



