294 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



leaves the lawn and traverses the farm, giving the pro- 

 prietor an opportunity to examine his crops, or exhibit 

 his agricultural resources to his friends. 



Walks are laid out for purposes similar to Drives, but 

 are much more common, and may be introduced into every 

 scene, however limited. They are intended solely for 

 promenades, or exercise on foot, and should therefore be 

 dry and firm, if possible, at all seasons when it is desirable 

 to use them. Some may be open to the south, sheltered 

 with evergreens, and made dry and hard for a warm pro- 

 menade in winter ; others formed of closely mown turf, 

 and thickly shaded by a leafy canopy of verdure, for a cool 

 retreat in the midst of summer. Others again may lead to 

 some sequestered spot, and terminate in a secluded rustic 

 seat, or conduct to some shaded dell or rugged eminence, 

 where an extensive prospect can be enjoyed. Indeed, the 

 genius of the place must suggest the direction, length, and 

 number of the walks to be laid out, as no fixed rules can be 

 imposed in a subject so everchanging and different. It 

 should, however, never be forgotten, that the walk ought 

 always to correspond to the scene it traverses, being rough 

 where the latter is wild and picturesque, sometimes scarcely 

 differing from a common footpath, and more polished as 

 the surrounding objects show evidences of culture and high 

 keeping. In direction, like the approach, it should take 

 easy flowing curves, though it may often turn more 

 abruptly at the interposition of an obstacle. The chief 

 beauty of curved and bending lines in walks, lies in the 

 new scenes which by means of them are opened to the 

 eye. In the straight walk of half a mile the whole is seen 

 at a glance, and there is too often but little to excite tho 

 spectator to pursue the search ; but in the modern style, at 



