332 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



located, and where it will be found that a diversified 

 surface is greatly to be preferred to a dead level. 



Where such a level exists, in some situations, it is almost 

 impossible to improve it much. When, for illustration, the 

 whole surrounding country is equally tame and flat, the 

 creation by artificial means, of undulations, hills, or hollows 

 in a park, would be in such evident contradiction to the 

 natural formation, that the eye would at once detect it as 

 a deception, harmonizing badly with general nature. The 

 best that can be done in such cases, is, perhaps, to produce 

 the greatest possible beauty by plantations and buildings, 

 and not to attempt any alterations of surface, which would 

 be insignificant and absurd. 



When, however, this is not the case, but the grounds 

 themselves, though nearly level, are surrounded by more 

 bold and spirited variations of surface, a great deal may be 

 effected. In those portions of the grounds nearest the sur- 

 rounding inequalities, the latter may be apparently carried 

 into the former, and the artificial sweeps, breaks, or undu- 

 lations in the park may be so connected with each other, 

 and with the neighboring irregularities, as to produce the 

 effect of accordant art joined to the charm of natural 

 expression. 



The error into which inexperienced improvers are con- 

 stantly liable to fall, is a want of breadth and extent in their 

 designs ; which latter, when executed, are so feeble as to 

 be full of littleness, out of keeping with the magnitude of 

 the surrounding scene. Their designs, like the sketches 

 of a novice in drawing, are cramped and meagre. This is 

 exemplified in ground by their producing, instead of easy 

 undulations, nothing but a succession of short sweeps and 

 hillocks like waves in the ocean. Now the most beautifu.' 



