COUNTKY VILLAS. 11)7 



■views along the approach road is neglected. A mansion set down in a park or 

 lawn, without any scenery of an intermediate character, such as an architec- 

 tural basement, a surrounding terrace, &c., is in opposition to the harmonising 

 principle of uniting objects so powerfully contrasted as a house and a field, 

 by scenery of an intermediate kind. 



291. 2 lie mansion is often seen inclosed in a patch of plantation, which also 

 includes the domestic offices ; but it very frequently wants the connexion, 

 which groups and small masses of trees would give it, with the general siu'face 

 of the park. Sometimes the latter is too much crowded, by the trees being 

 uniformly distributed over every part of it ; and sometimes it presents a bald 

 appearance, from the want of trees. Indeed, to adjust the proportion of 

 trees and pasture, or clothed spaces and naked spaces, about a place, is one of 

 those points of art on which more of the future effect depends than on almost 

 any other. A residence, of which it may be said that it has just enough of 

 trees and shrubs, and not too many, will generally be found a highly satis- 

 factory one. 



292. There are certain defects in grounds and buildings, which owe their 

 existence to errors and omissions on the part of the first builder or planter ; 

 and certain other sins, perhaps of a more heinous nature, which are committed 

 by the occupiers after the place is finished. The remote cause of these last 

 errors is, the desire inherent in almost everybody who is in possession of a 

 house and grounds which he can call his own, of doing something to it; 

 and the immediate cause is, that this something is usually done solely with 

 reference to itself, and without any regard to its general effect on the house or 

 grounds, considered as a whole. Perhaps a new flowei'-garden is to be formed, 

 and it must have beds in it, or statues to ornament it, like those at B or C : 

 without considering that B is a castle, and C a palace, while the scene where 

 the flower-garden is to be formed is, perhaps, a plain modern villa. The 

 desire of imitating those above us is thus at once the cause of the spread of 

 improvement, and of the introduction of much absurdity. The purchase of 

 articles at sales, because they are good and cheap, or, perhaps, beautiful in 

 themselves, is also often the means of spoiling the general eftect of a residence. 

 The young family of A., who are growing up, have acquired a taste for plants, 

 and are desirous of having a green-house, which A. kindly purchases for them 

 at the sale of the first neighbouring nurseryman who becomes bankrupt. This 

 shed-like structure is placed against one end of the house, in a conspicuous 

 situation ; and the entrance-front has thus ever after a mean appearance. We 

 have seen a handsome lawn spoiled by the desire of the lady of the house to 

 have a piece of rockwork ; and we have known the foundations of a house 

 rendered damp by the occupier having purchased the flints and scoriae of a 

 rockwork at a sale, and, for want of any better situation, banking up the lawn 

 front of his house with them. 



293. Planting single trees. — Nothing is more common than for gentlemen 

 of leisure, who have small country residences, to attend nurserymen's sales, 

 and purchase articles they do not want, merely because they are cheap. 

 These cheap purchases are often fatal to the general effect of a small place. 

 Room must be found for the trees and shrubs which have been bought ; and, 

 wherever there is an open space on the lawn, one or more are put down in the 

 middle of that space. " Surely, Mr. L.," we have been told a hundred times, 

 " there can be no harm in putting down a single tree, more especially as we 



