076" On the Formation of a Besideiice. 



disposition would have allowed many advantages of con- 

 venience, economj', and propriety, which need not be men- 

 tioned, as they will readily occin* to every one in the least 

 acquainted with the arrangements of a gentleman's residence. 



Before ending my letter, I beg to advert to an idea which 

 is rather prevalent respecting landscape-gardeners, and which 

 operates to their disadvantage. It is supposed, as the title 

 of their profession is rather new, and sounds as if closely 

 allied to what is called fine art, that their business consists 

 only in forming pretty pictures to delight the eyes of future 

 generations ; by the demolition of old trees, for the purpose of 

 planting ?/w/;/^ ones a few yards distant; by laying out plea- 

 sure-ground in beautifully meandering walks ; fanciful flower- 

 plots, and other kinds of embellishment. Now, there are 

 many proprietors who prefer the useful to the s'vceet of their 

 possessions, undervalue mere ornan)ent, and, consequently, 

 dread the visit of a man of taste, lest he should rob the sheep 

 of their pastures, the cattle of their hay, or the pigs of their 

 mast and acorns ; or lest his merely beautiful dispositions 

 should entail an annual and unnecessary expense to keep the 

 pretty things in order. But such notions are groundless; 

 because, if the landscape-gardener knows not any thing 

 besides the arrangement of flower-borders, the dispositions of 

 the trees in the park, or the erection of alcoves and eye-traps, 

 he does not deserve the title he assumes ; because these things 

 are only part of his profession. 



The fact is, the basis of landscape-gardening is territorial 

 impi'ovement. The designer must take into consideration 

 the value of the land, and make himself acquainted with the 

 capabilities of the estate ; he must see how it can be best 

 divided, what parts should be arable, what planted, and what 

 parts should be appropriated to meadows and pasturage. 

 The two latter, of course, will be near the house ; the former 

 at some distance. In all this he looks only at the intrinsic 

 value and most jjrofitablc occupation and destination of the 

 various parts. No incongruous intermixture of these parts 

 must appear ; and no inconvenience occur in })assing from one 

 to another, either by cattle or carriages ; he must be prepared 

 to advii:e what kinds of live stock, and number of each, may 

 be kept and bred on the land, and what portion of this will 

 be requisite for his employer's establishment. In all this he 

 acts in the character of a land steward. In the general 

 arrangement, however, he has to exercise his taste; and here 

 he acts in his profession of landscape-gardener, by forming 

 the most pleasing combinations of the materials he may choose 

 to arrange, with the circumstances which must guide his dis- 



