188 Landscape Gardening 



form a correct, or even a good taste, by studying and com- 

 paring the best examples already in existence in various 

 parts of this or other countries. Now the study of the 

 best productions in the fine arts is not more necessary to 

 the success of the young painter and sculptor than that of 

 buildings and grounds to the amateur or professional im- 

 prover, who desires to improve a country residence well 

 and tastefully. In both cases comparison, discrimination, 

 the use of the reasoning faculty, educate the natural deli- 

 cacy of perception into taste, more or less just and perfect, 

 and enable it not only to arrive at beauty, but to select the 

 most beautiful for the end in view.* 



There are at the present moment, without going abroad, 

 opportunities of cultivating a taste in landscape gardening, 

 quite sufficient to enable any one of natural sensibility to 

 the beautiful, combined with good reasoning powers, to 

 arrive at that point which may be considered good taste. 

 There are, indeed, few persons who are aware how instruc- 

 tive and interesting to an amateur, a visit to all the finest 

 country residences of the older States, would be at the 

 present moment. The study of books on taste is by no 

 means to be neglected by the novice in rural embellish- 

 ment; but the practical illustrations of different styles and 

 principles, to be found in the best cottage and villa resi- 

 dences, are far more convincing and instructive to most 

 minds, than lessons taught in any other mode whatever. 



We shall not, therefore, hesitate to commend a few of the 

 most interesting places to the study of the tasteful im- 

 prover. By the expenditure of the necessary time and 

 money to examine and compare thoroughly such places, he 

 will undoubtedly save himself much unnecessary outlay; 

 he will be able to seize and develop many beauties which 

 would otherwise be overlooked; and, most of all, he will be 

 able to avoid the exhibition of that crude and uncultivated 

 taste, which characterizes the attempts of the majority of 



* Were Mr. Downing making his plea to the generation now living he 

 would certainly insist on the services of the trained landscape architect. 

 F. A. W. 



