\ioith regard to Practical Gardeners. 41 



dening, were sanctioned and founded. This was indeed an 

 advance from extreme stiffness to the freedom of nature. But 

 it was soon found that the banishment of right hues, and 

 throwing the features of a park into irregular forms, ditl not 

 answer the painter's expectations. The comfort, convenience, 

 and necessary cultivation round the dwellings of man, with 

 the requisite range for cattle for his use, px'ofit, or pleasure, 

 imposed a wide expanse of tameness, as fatiguing to the eye 

 of taste as was the abolished formality. 



The fact is, " neglect and accident " cannot be imitated. 

 There is something ridiculous in the very idea ! The pencil, 

 by a random movement, can produce irregular intricacy with- 

 out detection and without reproach ; but to see men and 

 horses, with all kinds of pioneering apparatus, employed dig- 

 ging cavities, raising hillocks, breaking lines, mutilating trees, 

 or building ruins, vvould be not only very foolish, but con- 

 temptible. Such freaks, however, have been recommended, 

 and actually in some instances executed ; but rational taste 

 has nothing to do in such proceedings, any farther than pre- 

 serving such features where they happen to exist. 



But to return to the question : — Can nothing be done in 

 polished scenery to produce those harmonious associations 

 which we so much admire in the uncultivated woodlands? 

 Yes, much ; and perhaps more than has ever yet been fliirly 

 tried. 



It has already been observed, that our parks are deficient 

 in variety and intricacy, chiefly from the general smoothness 

 of surface which prevails. The groups, or clumps, of trees 

 are meagre and unsightly ; too much insulated and uncon- 

 nected with the turf and with each other. The browsing line 

 is too cutting and apparent. This defect is entirely owing to 

 the want of suitable undergrowths. Every practical planter 

 is aware of the difficulty of protecting trees, and especially 

 shrubs, from the depredations of cattle ; it is in fact the prin- 

 cipal obstacle to planting undergrowths ; and is the imme- 

 diate cause of the blank and vacant air of our parks. 



To get rid of this objection to our most valuable scenery, to 

 add that trait of accompaniment which would give depth and 

 massiveness to our groups and woods, so pleasing to the eye of 

 taste, we have only to select such plants, as, while they pro- 

 duce the desired effect, will also, from their own properties of 

 self-defence, be safe f\-om the effects of cattle. Such plants 

 are plentiful and well known, and only require to be named. 



The first is the common holly : it thrives on almost every 

 kind of soil ; is hostile to cattle; sufficiently ornamental for 



