NUTURAL STYLE. 23 



a little in the way. He seems to recognise a three- 

 fold division of the domain the architectural terrace 

 and flower-garden in direct connection with the 

 house, where he admits the formal style ; the shrub- 

 bery or pleasure-ground, a transition between the 

 flowers and the trees, which he would hand over to 

 the " natural style " of Brown and his school ; and, 

 thirdly, the park, which he considers the proper 

 domain of his own system. This is a distinction 

 which it would be well for every proprietor to keep 

 in view, not for the sake of a monotonous adherence 

 to its divisions in every case, but in order to remem- 

 ber that the tree, the shrub, and the flower, though 

 they may be occasionally mingled with effect, yet 

 require a separate treatment, and the application of 

 distinct principles, where they are to be exhibited 

 each in its full perfection. Our present subject of 

 complaint is the encroachments which the natural 

 and picturesque styles have made upon the regular 

 flower-garden. Manufacturers of by - lanes and 

 lightning-struck cottages are all very well in their 

 own department, but that must not be in the vicinity 

 of the house. We suppose that even Whateley him- 

 self would admit that the steps and threshold of the 

 door must be symmetrical, and would probably allow 

 a straight pathway more appropriate, and even more 

 natural, than a winding one, leading directly to the 

 door of the house. Once get a single straight line, 

 even the outline of the building itself, and it then 

 becomes merely a matter of situation, or convenience, 

 or taste, how far the straight lines and right angles 



