570 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



work, to be in keeping with the natural character of the 

 surrounding forests. The entrance from the public 

 road is protected by a gate-lodge, and is set back from 

 the highway two hundred and fifty feet ; a liberal space 

 here rendering the change from the road to the culti- 

 vated grounds of the park less abrupt, and expressing 

 the idea of hospitality. The main avenue from the 

 entrance soon leads the visitor into the ravine, while on 

 either hand diverge the other roads; following Glen 

 Avenue, we emerge from the ravine, by a picturesque 

 turn up the precipitous bank. The somewhat laby- 

 rinthian drives which now offer themselves, lead in 

 graceful curves throughout the estate, the unity of 

 which is not marred by interior fences ; for though the 

 proprietors are not restricted in this respect by any 

 rule, they have, by common consent, thus far avoided 

 the erection of any barriers, excepting those necessary 

 to enclose the whole tract. The Park itself and all the 

 private places, seem like one large estate, enlivened by 

 the dwellings and embellishments which, at intervals, 

 are seen throughout the vistas of the forest. After 

 making the detour of these grounds, the drive may be 

 continued to other interesting places in the neighbor- 

 hood, among which is "Eagle Rock," a bold projecting 

 portion of the cliff, commanding a wider scope of the 

 horizon, and more nearly a birds-eye view of the land- 

 scape. Around this central tract, especially termed 

 " the Park," the remainder of the property is divided 

 into about fifty villa sites, of from three to ten acres 

 each, the proprietors of which have a joint interest 

 in and common access to the Park, but who possess 

 the sole and unrestricted right to the lot which 

 they may have selected. The fund for the pur- 

 chase and embellishment of the Park is derived from 

 an assessment on the surrounding sites, of one hundred 

 dollars per acre ; and for the maintenance of the Park, 

 and future improvements, an annual assessment is made 



