JUNE. 265 



other graces or characteristics. It is true that nature does not 

 plant her herbs, trees and shrubs in rows, or according to any 

 mathematical lines or figures : but it does not follow that one 

 who plants in the same irregular manner, produces a work 

 that is modelled after nature. As well might we call him a 

 mathematician, who placed his figures in mathematical col- 

 umns, while the figures had no relation to one another, and 

 led to no result. We must form our opinion of the charac- 

 ter of any tract by the decision of nature herself. If we 

 find within it all those indigenous plants which would have 

 been found there, if the grounds had never been disturbed, 

 and all the indigenous birds and animals accepting it as their 

 home, then may we believe that nature is truly the presiding 

 goddess, receiving the homage of all her creatures. 



The little solitary birds that flee the park and orchard, and 

 reside only in the woods where certain of their natural con- 

 ditions still remain, would not inquire whether the planter 

 had arranged his trees and shrubs in rows, or scattered theni 

 at random ; but whether he had left the wild bushes, grasses 

 and vines in which they are accustomed to nestle, and the wild 

 fruits and seeds that aff'ord them sustenance. How geometri- 

 cally soever the trees and shrubs may be arranged, if they 

 are attended by the same groups and species that form their 

 bedding and undergrowth in the wilderness, the tract thus 

 arranged is more natural than a park consisting only of se- 

 lected trees and lawn, without any undergrowth of native 

 plants. In the one case, every natural circumstance is pres- 

 ent, except the irregular planting ; in the other case, every 

 natural circumstance except the irregular planting is absent. 

 Those improvers, therefore, who flattered themselves that 

 they were copyists of nature, when they introduced the cus- 

 tom of irregular planting, and of curved and straggling walks, 

 while the surface was all smooth lawn and the walks neatly 

 gravelled, were as far from nature, as a lady florist who should, 

 for the same reasons, scatter her flower pots in wild irregu- 

 larity over her parlor carpet. 



A straight cartpath is frequently made by our farmers 

 through a level piece of woodland, and then left to nature. 



VOL. XXI. NO. VI. 34 



