LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 137 



uniform. It will always displease the eye, though 

 the observer may not be able to tell why it is so. 

 A straight line is art, and to be pleasing it should 

 be as straight and uniform as art can make it. 

 Straight lines of trees are frequently necessary, 

 especially in towns on division lines, where the 

 grounds are not extensive enough to admit of 

 curves, which are much more pleasing. The old 

 fashioned stereotyped plan of planting a straight 

 row of trees on either side of the walk, from the 

 gate to the front door is inexcusable. It resem- 

 bles nothing in nature, and has no significance in 

 art, or if it has any it might be the suggestion that 

 the proprietor might be in such condition as to 

 enable him to find his front gate, but entirely 

 unable then to find his door without the friendly 

 assistance of these landmarks. 



Curved hedge rows, or curved walks are pleas- 

 ing, but must be introduced with great care. 

 They should not give the observer the impression 

 that they are there for effect, but that they could 

 not be avoided. Thus a tree can be placed in such 

 a manner as to curve the path to avoid it, and 

 another further on, changing the curve into an 

 opposite direction. Curves are not pleasing if too 

 abrupt. The most graceful and pleasing are those 

 barely curved enough to catch the eye and destroy 

 the impression that it was intended for a straight 

 line, and a failure made of it. If shrubs or bushes 

 of any kind are used for borders of walks, they 

 should be low growing and uniform in height and 



