Plantation Fences and Rose Stakes. 677 



positions, wliether of ground, wood, or water. Perhaps he 

 may encroach on a fine meadow for the kitchen-garden and 

 orchard ; but would this be called waste ? or if he take a 

 few acres for pleasure-ground around the mansion, would this 

 be deemed a deterioration of the estate ? Are not all estates 

 enhanced in value in proportion as even the trees upon them 

 are or are not ornamentally disposed ? If new plantations are to 

 be made, or old natural woods thinned, why should not these 

 works be done tastefully as well as at random ? It should 

 be remembered that the pleasing distribution of trees on an 

 estate, in almost all cases, constitutes its principal value. It 

 is in such performances that the assistance of a landscape- 

 gardener is necessary. The application of his taste can never 

 detract from the value of the place ; for, in fact, every device 

 he may practise, or every alteration he may recommend, can 

 only be justified by fitness of purpose, use, or beauty; or for 

 convenience or propriety; and always with a view to present 

 pleasure and profit, connected with ultimate and progressive 

 improvement. 



I am. Sir, yours, &c. 

 Chelsea, Oct. 6. 1832. James Main. 



Art. XVII. A Fence for Plantations about Pasture Grounds in 

 sight from a Residence, and Stakes for Standard Roses. By 

 Charles Lawrence, Esq. 



Sir, 

 I RECEIVED much pleasure and instruction from the perusal 

 of your very judicious observations on the various sins of 

 omission and commission so prevalent in landscape-gardening, 

 especially on the " errors in grouping," in Vol. VII. of 

 the Magazine. They are most happily illustrated by the 

 diagrams given at page 401. I have often endeavoured to 

 impress on persons laying out pleasure-grounds similar views, 

 as I have afterwards found, to very little purpose ; for words 

 are but an imperfect medium for the communication of ideas 

 on such subjects, to those who have not previously had some 

 practical experience. Your diagrams, on the contrary, speak 

 for themselves. The most careless observer can see in a 

 moment, by " looking on this picture and on this," the 

 importance of forming a complete design before he com- 

 mences his operations ; that this cannot be successfully 

 treated without due deference to certain principles; and 

 that a harmonious and beautiful effect can hardly be the 

 result of mere accident. It is very common, and not a little 



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