90 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. 



securing the utmost convenience, in the most economical 

 as well as the most attractive and graceful manner. It 

 cannot be denied that the infinitely varying circum- 

 stances of the topography of different situations, must 

 involve a corresponding variety of arrangement in order 

 to secure the best for each. It cannot be denied that 

 the design of such arrangement demands the exercise of 

 skill, judgment and taste, equal at least to that required 

 'for the architecture of buildings. It seems almost absurd 

 that such a course of reasoning should be necessary in 

 order to prove the existence of such an art as landscape 

 architecture, but while we continue to ignore its existence 

 and to go on blindly and without method, in the perform- 

 ance of works which obviously should be based directly 

 upon its principles and with such an opportunity as no 

 nation ever before enjoyed of developing the theory and 

 practice of the art am I not right in asserting its claims 

 and demanding, if only for the sake of our future reputa- 

 tion, that they should be recognized? 



The statement and solution of the problems involved 

 in the practical application of the art, on the scale sug- 

 gested would be inappropriate to my present object. 

 The scientific discussion of the subject, (if the man 

 could be found who is competent to it) would require a 

 volume of such compass as would be likely to repel the 

 class of readers I have most desired to attract. I have 

 purposely avoided such statements of details as may be 

 found elsewhere, and have hoped only to call attention 

 to the momentous duties devolving upon us, which so far 

 as I am aware have never been more than vaguely 



