JAN.] FLOWER-GARDEN. 59 



groves ; the whole combined, forming a diversity, pleasing to the 

 senses, and condusive to health, by exciting to the salutary exercise 

 of walking. 



In other parts are sometimes discovered eminences, or rising 

 grounds, as a high terrace, mount, steep declivity, or other emi- 

 nence, ornamented \vith curious trees and shrubs, with walks lead- 

 ing under the shade of trees, by easy ascents to the summit, where 

 is presented to the view, an extensive prospect of the adjacent fields, 

 buildings, hamlets, and country around, and likewise affording a 

 fresh and cooling air in summer. 



Regular compartments and figures, in various forms, are also 

 sometimes introduced in some extensive grounds, for variety ; in 

 contrast with the irregular works, and still to preserve some ap- 

 pearance of the remains of ancient gardening ; such as straight 

 walks, verged with bordtrs of flowers, &c. regular parterres, in 

 flower borders ; square spaces, circles, and octagons, &c. inclosed 

 with low clipped hedges ; hedge-work, formed into various devices ; 

 detached ever-greens, formed into pyramids and other regular 

 figures ; regular grass-slopes, formed on the side of some declivi- 

 ty or rising ground ; elevated terrace's, clumps of trees, sur- 

 rounded with low evergreen hedges ; straight avenues of trees, 

 in ranges, &c. a little of each being judiciously disposed in different 

 situations, may prove an agreeable variety, by diversifying the 

 scene, in contrast with the rural works before mentioned. 



Sometimes a blake declivity, rocky ground, or rough vale, is 

 made to exhibit a wild and uncultivated scene, and tends to set off 

 the improved parts, to great advantage. 



Pieces of water are always, where possible, exhibited, in the most 

 conspicuous points, contiguous to the termination of the main lawn, 

 or other spacious openings ; representing sometimes a lake, bason, 

 &c. and sometimes a natural river, winding its course through dif- 

 ferent divisions, and its termination concealed by a curious turn, 

 making it appear to loose itself in the adjacent plantations. 



With respect to the walks, some ought to be made of gravel, and 

 some of grass ; the former for common walking, and the latter for 

 occasional walking in the heat of summer; which, in dry hot 

 weather, may be more agreeable than the gravel-walks ; therefore 

 some of each sort is proper, both for convenience and variety. 



Gravel-walks, however, should lead all round the pleasure-ground, 

 and into the principal internal divisions, so as to have dry and firm 

 walking, at all times of the year ; for frequently, but particularly in 

 winter, and in wet weather, grass-walks are very uncomfortable and 

 even unhealthy to walk on. These walks should be of proportional 

 width, in different parts, and larger or smaller in proportion to the 

 extent of the ground. 



As to the distribution of gravel-walks. ...first a magnificent one, 

 from fifteen to twenty or thirty feet wide., should range immediately- 

 close and parallel to the front of the house, and be conducted di- 

 rectly across the lawn into the nearest side shrubberies ; from this 

 main walk, other smaller ones, from five to ten or fifteen feet wide, 

 according to the extent of the ground, should branch off at proper 



