EMBELLISHMENTS. 419 



We are well aware that from the comparative rarity of any- 

 thing like a highly kept place in this country, the want of 

 this, which is indeed like the last finish to the residence, is 

 scarcely felt at all. But this only })roves the infant state 

 of Landscape Gardening here, and the little attention that 

 has been paid to the highest details of the art. 



If our readers will imagine, with us, a pretty villa, con- 

 veniently arranged and well constructed, in short, complete 

 in itself as regards its architecture, and at the same time, 

 properly placed in a smooth well kept lawn, studded with 

 groups and masses of fine trees, they will have an example 

 often to be met with, of a place, in the graceful school of 

 design, about which, however, there is felt to be a certain 

 incongruity between the house, a highly artificial object, 

 and the surrounding grounds, where the prevailing ex- 

 pression in the latter is that of beautiful nature. 



Let us suppose, for further illustration, the same house 

 and grounds with a few additions. The house now rising 

 directly out of the green turf which encompasses it, we 

 will surround by a raised platform or terrace, wide enough 

 for a dry, firm walk, at all seasons ; on the top of the wall 

 or border of this terrace, we will form a handsome parapet, 

 or balustrade, some two or three feet high, the details of 

 which shall be in good keeping with the house, whether 

 Grecian or Gothic. On the coping of this parapet, if the 

 house is in the classical style, we will find suitable places, 

 at proper intervals, for some handsome urns, vases, etc. 

 On the drawing-room side of the house, that is, the side 

 towards which the best room or rooms look, we will place 

 the ilower-garden, into which we descend from the terrace 

 by a few steps. This flower-garden may be simply what 

 its name denotes, a place exclusively devoted to the culti- 



