104 



THE PAEKS AND GARDENS OF TARIS. [Chap. VII. 



view of the country well illustrates tlie importance of arranging 

 public gardens in relation to their surroundings. There are too 

 many examples of the neglect of this in private as well as public 

 gardens. In towns we are frequently obliged to plant to hide 

 ugly things. In the country plantations often conceal beautiful 

 scenes. The whole system of dead walls, useless fences, and the 

 like, deserves to be reconsidered ; and as regards such treasures 

 of park or garden landscape as are enclosed by our own hedges 

 and ditches, whether we are justified in always shutting them out 



from the rest of the world is a point that may well be weighed in 

 the future by many. At present there is too much of the art of 

 fortification in planting. 



In Vincennes, as elsewhere in the public gardens of Paris, 

 false curves and steep abrupt slopes abound ; and, as usual, some 

 of the prettiest parts are marred by the walks and roads. It is 

 indeed difficult to find a bit of green margin to the Avater 

 unspoilt by needlessly ofi'ensive walks. 



In contrast with these hard margins round the Lac des 

 Minimes are some little rocky streamlets which are, on the 



