Historical Sketches 25 



on the Delaware, a few miles from Philadelphia. There- 

 is here a good deal of beauty, in the natural style, made up 

 chiefly by lawn and forest trees. A pleasing drive through 

 plantations of 25 years' growth, is one of the most interest- 

 ing features - - and there is much elegance and high keeping 

 in the grounds. 



Below Philadelphia, the lover of beautiful places will find 

 a' good deal to admire in the country seat of John R. Lalimer, 

 Esq., near Wilmington, which enjoys the reputation of being 

 the finest in Delaware. The place has all the advantages of 

 high keeping, richly stocked gardens and conservatories, 

 and much natural beauty, heightened by judicious planting, 

 arrangement, and culture. 



At the south are many extensive country residences re- 

 markable for trees of unusual grandeur and beauty, among 

 which the live oak is very conspicuous; but they are, in 

 general, wanting in that high keeping and care, which is so 

 essential to the charm of a landscape garden. 



Of smaller villa residences, surburban chiefly, there are 

 great numbers, springing up almost by magic, in the bor- 

 ders of our towns and cities. Though the possessors of 

 these can scarcely hope to introduce anything approaching 

 to a landscape garden style, in laying out their limited 

 grounds, still they may be greatly benefited by an acquaint- 

 ance with the beauties and the pleasures of this species of 

 rural embellishment. When we are once master of the 

 principles, and aware of the capabilities of an art, we are 

 able to infuse an expression of tasteful design, or an air of 

 more correct elegance, even into the most humble works, 

 and with very limited means.* 



While we shall endeavor, in the following pages, to give 

 such a view of modern Landscape Gardening, as will enable 

 the improver to proceed with his fascinating operations, in 



* This foregoing section has been preserved in the present edition 

 mainly for historic reasons (which seems proper enough in a chapter 

 entitled "Historical Sketches"), in order to show the background of 

 Mr. Downing's work. To bring these sketches up to dale <>n tin- same 

 lines would be both impossible and impracticable in 1U21. -- !". A. \Y. 



