COUNTRY VrLTAS. 1'',9 



262. IVie margins of an approach road, to be avtistical, ought not to be 

 rough like those of a coninion road tlirough a field ; and, above all things, 

 they should not have footpaths running parallel to them, with a gutter 

 between, as in the case of public roads. The surface of the road ought to be 

 on a level, or nearly so, with that of the lawn or grass on each side : it 

 ought never to be raised above it, or to be rounded in the middle ; nor ought 

 it to be more than one inch sunk beneath it. The reason why the gravel 

 ought not to be raised above the grass is, that the appearance produced gives 

 the idea of the gravel in the road having been cai'ted there, and laid down on 

 tlie natural surface ; whereas, when it is. kept level with, or an inch beneath, 

 tlie surface, the expression is conveyed of a proper foundation, or preparation, 

 having been made for it. The reason why the margin ought to be one smooth, 

 definite, delicate line is, that such a line is gardenesque, which is more likely 

 to be the style employed in planting along an approach road through an open 

 lawn, or through the park scenery of a small place, than the picturesque. If, 

 however, the picturesque style of planting be employed, then the line of 

 demarcation between the grass and the gravel may be indefinite, broken, and 

 irregular, as in the case of walks with picturesque margins. 



263. T/ie scenery accompanying an approach road will, in all ordinary cases, 

 and especially in small places, consist chiefly of groups of trees. Shrubs are 

 seldom admissible along such a road, because, as its sides are generally 

 supposed to be pastured by sheep or cattle, the shrubs would require fences 

 for their protection. In planting along an approach, two objects ought to be 

 chiefly kept in view : to dispose of the trees in such a way as to account for 

 the curves of the road, and to arrange them so as to form suitable foregrounds 

 to the scenery beyond. Subordinate objects are, to prevent two turns of the 

 road from being seen at the same time ; to conceal the house from the 

 approach road till the spectator is near enough to see it in a bold and striking 

 point of view ; and, above all, to prevent it from being seen from the entrance- 

 lodge, or from the road immediately wifhin it, as that implies a limited 

 extent of gi'ounds, destroys the idea of seclusion, and shows the house without 

 due preparation. 



264. The width of approach roads, in very small places, where only a one- 

 horse carriage is kept by the proprietor, need not be more than 8 ft. ; because, 

 when two such carriages meet, each driver can draw his horse to one side, so 

 as to have one wheel on the turf, and may thus pass without difficulty. But 

 where a two-horse carriage is kept, and, indeed, in every case where the 

 mansion is of a respectable size, however small the grounds may be, the 

 approach road should not be less in width than 12 ft. Indeed, much of the 

 dignity and grandeur of every place depends on the walks and roads being 

 of a good breadth, and always being highly artistical in their material and 

 keeping. 



265. The general surface of the ground, exclusive of what is occupied by 

 the buildings and the kitchen-garden, requires to be rendered artistical, either 

 in the geometrical style, by forming it into regular levels or slo^ies ; or in 

 the modern manner, by merely polishing the surface, by reducing rough- 

 nesses, protuberances, and petty inequalities, so as to form it everywhere into 

 flowing lines, consisting of curves of various degrees of curvature and extent, 

 insensibly gliding into each other, or into levels or slopes. The operations of 

 levelling and smoothing are most conveniently performed before beginning 



