JAN.] FLOWER GARDEN. 75 



In designs for a pleasure-ground, according to modern taste, a 

 tract of ground of any considerable extent may have the prospect 

 varied and diversified exceedingly, in a beautiful representation of 

 art and nature, as that in passing from one compartment to another, 

 still new varieties present themselves in the most agreeable manner ; 

 and even if the figure of the ground is irregular, and the surface has 

 many inequalities,- the whole may be improved without any great 

 trouble of squaring or levelling j for by humoring the natural form, 

 you may cause even the very irregularities and natural deformities 

 to carry along with them an air of diversity and novelty which fail 

 not to please and entertain most observers. 



In these rural works, however, we should not abolish entirely the 

 appearance of art and uniformity; for these, when properly applied, 

 give an additional beauty and peculiar grace to all our natural pro- 

 ductions, and set nature in the fairest and most beautiful point of 

 view. 



But some modern pleasure-grounds, in which rural design is copied 

 to an extreme, are often very barren of variety and entertainment, as 

 they frequently consist only of a grass lawn, like a great field, having 

 a running plantation of trees and shrubs all round it, just broad 

 enough to admit a gravel walk winding through it, in the serpentine 

 way, in many short twists and turns, and bordering at every turn 

 alternately upon the outward fence and the lawn; which are con- 

 tinually obtruded upon the sight, exhibiting the same prospect over 

 and over, without the least variation; so as that after having tra- 

 versed the walks all around this sort of pleasure-ground, we find no 

 more variety or entertainment than at our first entrance, the whole 

 having presented itself at the first view. 



Therefore, in laying out pleasure-ground, the designer ought to 

 take particular care that the whole extent be not taken in at one 

 view ; only exhibiting at first a large open lawn or other spacious 

 open compartment, or grand walk, &c., terminated on each side with 

 plantations of curious trees, shrubs, and flowers, exhibiting only some 

 openings at intervals, and behind these have compartments of the 

 like plantations, with grass openings, gravel walks, water, and other 

 ornaments ; so that a spectator will be agreeably surprised to find 

 that what terminated his prospect only served as an introduction to 

 new beauties and varieties. 



It is impossible to exhibit any regular direction for planning an 

 extensive pleasure-ground, as the different figures and situations, &c., 

 of the ground may require different designs, therefore general hints 

 only can be given. 



SKETCH OF THE DESIGN. 



The following general sketch may be varied according to the situa- 

 tion and extent of the ground, and may be useful to persons who are 

 inexperienced in designs of the kind. 



With respect to situation, this must be immediately contiguous to 

 the mansion house, whether high or low situated ; remarking, how- 

 ever, that a somewhat elevated situation, or the side or summit of 



