124 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



figures or arrangements, either in the direction of the paths, 

 or ill the outlines of the groves, copses and open dales, by 

 which the tract is diversified. 



If we examine a natural lawn or meadow, partially covered 

 with wood which has grown up spontaneously since the orig- 

 inal clearing of the forest, where the grounds have been con- 

 stantly pastured by cattle, we find groves, coppices and thick- 

 ets standing at irregular distances apart, and assuming very 

 anomalous shapes. It is not by any means certain, however, 

 that you may not find one nearly circular in its outlines. Al- 

 most any other simple geometrical figure may be approxima- 

 ted : but these can never be perfect, nor can there be many 

 of them in one place. The author of the universe has given 

 to the heavenly bodies a spherical form, and causes them to 

 revolve in elliptical orbits, or in orbits of some precise geo- 

 metrical figure. Were their courses not directed with perfect 

 mathematical precision, they could not revolve in such unde- 

 viating harmony, and there could be no regularity in their 

 movements, or in the courses of the seasons, and other peri- 

 ods of time. But in the disposition of the objects on the 

 face of the earth, nature has observed no such regularity. 

 She has raised her mountains and depressed her valleys, with- 

 out apparent method ; and she leads her rivers along through 

 the mountains and over the plains, in equally irregular courses. 

 He who imagines that by laying out his avenues in nicely 

 drawn curves, he is imitating the course of rivers, is as great- 

 ly in error, as one who should suppose that by quincunx, he 

 is imitating nature's method of planting trees. The course 

 of rivers is often in a direct line, seldom angular, frequently 

 winding and crooked, but seldom or never forming an even 

 or geometrical curve. If, therefore, we would imitate nature, 

 we must draw no perfect mathematical lines or figures, nor 

 should we be profuse in our approximations to them, if we 

 would avoid the appearance of formality. 



Our own country is full of these charming landscapes, and 

 perhaps no other country on earth has received so many ex- 

 ternal advantages, and such a variety of scenery from the 

 hand of nature. We need not visit England to study and 



