Treatment of (Ground 91 



routes. It is the private road, leading from the public 

 highway directly to the house itself. It should therefore 

 bear a proportionate breadth and size, and exhibit marks 

 of good keeping, in accordance with the dignity of the 

 mansion. 



In the ancient style of gardening, the approach was so 

 formed as to enter directly in front of the house, affording 

 a full view of that portion of the edifice, and no other. A 

 line drawn as directly as possible, and evenly bordered on 

 each side with a tall avenue of trees, was the whole expendi- 

 ture of art necessary in its formation. It is true, the sim- 

 plicity of design was often more than counterbalanced by 

 the difficulty of levelling, grading, and altering the surface, 

 necessary to please the geometric eye; but the rules were as 

 plain and unchangeable, as the lines were parallel and 

 undeviating. 



In the present more advanced state of Landscape Garden- 

 ing, the formation of the approach has become equally a 

 matter of artistical skill with other details of the art. The 

 house is generally so approached, that the eye shall first 

 meet it in an angular direction, displaying not only the 

 beauty of the architectural fagade but also one of the end 

 elevations, thus giving a more complete idea of the size, 

 character, or elegance of the building: and instead of lead- 

 ing in a direct line from the gate to the house, it curves in 

 easy lines through certain portions of the park or lawn, until 

 it reaches that object. 



If the point where the approach is to start from the 

 highway be not already determined past alteration, it 

 should be so chosen as to afford a sufficient drive through 

 the grounds before arriving at the house, to give the stranger 

 some idea of the extent of the whole property: to allo\v an 

 agreeable diversity of surface over which to lead it: and 

 lastly in such a manner as not to interfere with the con- 

 venience of ready access to and from the mansion. 



This point being decided, and the other being the man- 

 sion and adjacent buildings, it remains to lay out the road 

 in such gradual curves as will appear easy and graceful, 



