CHAP, vii SYLVA 175 



into lawns and ridings for exercise, health, and pro- 

 spect, and for which I should here presume to furnish 

 some farther directions, were it not already done to 

 my hand by the often cited Mr. Cooke, in that useful 

 work of his ; where, in chapter the 38th. he has laid 

 down all that I can conceive necessary, by measures 

 exactly taken from the middle-line of any front, 

 following the center-stake, if it be for a walk : He 

 there determines the wideness of the walk, according 

 to its length, as 40 foot to one of half a mile ; if 

 more, 50 or 60 ; and if you withal desire shade, that 

 then you should make 3 walks, the two collaterals 

 20 foot broad, to a middle one of 40, 25 to 50, so 

 that the middle be as wide as both the other : He 

 likewise shews how proper it is that walks should 

 not terminate abruptly, but rather in some capacious 

 or pretty figure, be it circle, oval, semi-circle, triangle, 

 or square, especially in parks, or where they do not 

 lead into other walks ; and even in that case, that 

 there may gracefully be a circle to receive them : 

 There he shews how to pierce a walk through the 

 thickest wood either by stakes set up where they 

 may be seen to direct, or by candle and lantern, in a 

 calm night, Gfc. He also gives the distances of the 

 trees in relation to each other, according to the 

 species, and shews how necessary it is, to plant them 

 nearer in those ovals, circles, and squares, &c. for 

 the better distinction of the figures, suppose to half 

 the distance of that of the walks, and proportionable 

 to the amplitude or smalness thereof : As for lawns, 

 he advises that they should (if possible) be contriv'd 

 on the south or east side of the seat and mansion, for 

 avoiding the impetuousness of western winds ; and 

 that your best rooms may front those lawns and 



