Landscape Gardening 



where an extensive prospect can be enjoyed. Indeed, the 

 genius of the place must suggest the direction, length, and 

 number of the walks to be laid out, as no fixed rules can be 

 imposed in a subject so everchanging and different. It 

 should, however, never be forgotten, that the walk ought 

 always to correspond to the scene it traverses, being rough 

 where the latter is wild and picturesque, sometimes scarcely 

 differing from a common footpath, and more polished as 

 the surrounding objects show evidences of culture and high 

 keeping. In direction, like the approach, it should take 

 easy flowing curves, though it may often turn more abruptly 

 al the interposition of an obstacle. The chief beauty of 

 curved and bending lines in walks, lies in the new scenes 

 which by means of them are opened to the eye. In the 

 straight walk of half a mile the whole is seen at a glance, 

 and there is too often but little to excite the spectator to 

 pursue the search; but in the modern style, at every few 

 rods, a new turn in the walk opens a new prospect to the 

 beholder, and "leads the eye," as Hogarth graphically ex- 

 pressed it, "a kind of wanton chase," continually affording 

 new refreshment and variety. 



Fences are often among the most unsightly and offensive 

 objects in our country seats. Some persons appear to have 

 a passion for subdividing their grounds into a great number 

 of fields; a process which is scarcely ever advisable even in 

 common farms, but for which there can be no apology in 

 elegant residences. The close proximity of fences to the 

 house gives the whole place a confined and mean character. 

 'The mind/' says Repton, "feels a certain disgust under a 

 sense of confinement in any situation, however beautiful." 

 A wide-spread lawn, on the contrary, where no boundaries 

 are conspicuous, conveys an impression of ample extent 

 and space for enjoyment. It is frequently the case that, 

 on that side of the house nearest the outbuildings, fences 

 are, for convenience, brought in its close neighborhood, and 

 here they are easily concealed by plantations; but on the 

 other sides, open and unobstructed views should be pre- 

 served, by removing all barriers not absolutely necessary. 



