54 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. 



manufacturing interests, and the high lands which over- 

 look it, for the best residences. The steep hillsides, if 

 preserved in their natural condition, or developed into a 

 more artistic expression of their natural characteristics, 

 by appropriate planting and culture, would form a strik- 

 ingly beautiful feature in the general aspect of the town. 

 Advantage should be taken of ravines to secure an easy 

 ascent to the summit of the bluff, and a fine avenue 

 arranged along its brow, which would furnish building 

 sites for the best residences, overlooking the lower town, 

 and commanding the views up and down the river. 

 Footpaths could be arranged up and down the bluff, 

 winding sufficiently to secure easy grades and taking 

 advantage of any natural terrace or " coigne of vantage " 

 to increase the picturesque effect by the introduction of 

 appropriate decorations : as a fountain, a monument, or 

 perhaps a rustic arbor and a bit of rich lawn. Thus the 

 face of the bluff which is commonly rendered a hideous 

 looking precipice, scarred with gullies, and unavailable 

 for any useful purpose,, would become a chief ornament 

 and striking feature in the general aspect of the town. 



The picturesque and attractive character which may 

 be conferred upon a town by thus making an ornamental 

 use of areas which are useless for other purposes, is 

 almost inconceivable to one who has given no thought to 

 the subject, and this may be very greatly increased by 

 attention to various little details, which are never even 

 thought of by those to whom the work is commonly 

 entrusted. Suppose for instance, as is frequently the case 

 in the West, that the site of a town is intersected by one 



