320 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



combinations of boards and shingles, without the least 

 attempt at adaptation to situation ; and square masses 

 of brick start up here and there, in the verdant slopes 

 of our village suburbs, appearing as if they had been 

 transplanted, by some unlucky incantation, from the close- 

 packed neighborhood of city residence, and left acciden- 

 tally in the country, or, as Sir Walter Scott has re- 

 marked, " had strayed out to the country for an airing." 



What then are the proper characteristics of a rural 

 residence ? The answer to this, in a few words, is, such 

 a dwelling, as from its various accommodations, not only 

 gives ample space for all the comforts and conveniences 

 of a country life, but by its varied and picturesque form 

 and outline, its porches, verandas, etc., also appears to 

 have some reasonable connexion, or be in perfect keeping, 

 with surrounding nature. Architectural beauty must be 

 considered conjointly with the beauty of the landscape or 

 situation. Buildings of almost every description, and 

 particularly those for the habitation of man, will be 

 considered by the mind of taste, not only as architectural 

 objects of greater or less merit, but as component parts 

 of the general scene ; united with the surrounding lawn, 

 embosomed in tufts of trees and shrubs, if properly 

 designed and constructed, they will even serve to impress 

 a character upon the surrounding landscape. Their effect 

 will frequently be good or bad, not merely as they are 

 excellent or indifferent examples of a certain style of 

 building, but as they are happily or unhappily combined 

 with the adjacent scenery. The intelligent observer will 

 readily appreciate the truth of this, and acknowledge the 

 value, as well as necessity, of something besides archi- 

 tectural knowledge. And he will perceive how much 



