208 Xan&scape Hrcbttecture 



the one most valuable feature of the picture. They 

 lend dignity and character more than any other mem- 

 ber of the association of trees and shrubs growing on the 

 lawn, and, when combined with the loosely planted 

 shrubs in the neighbourhood, a mystical and enlarged 

 effect in the distance is often thus produced which is 

 of the greatest value in the landscape. The following 

 quotation may give some suggestion of how such a 

 difficult grouping should be managed: 



"[A newly planted group] or a natural woods 

 properly thinned out seems to show an inlet into a 

 wood that has been cut, if the opposite points of the 

 entrance tally, that gives a show of art and depreci- 

 ates its merit; but a difference only in the situation 

 of those points, by bringing one more forward than 

 the other, prevents the appearance though the forms 

 be similar. Other points which distinguish the 

 great parts should in general be strongly marked; a 

 short turn has more spirit in it than a tedious cir- 

 cuity; and a line broken by angles has a precision and 

 firmness which in an undulated line are wanting: 

 the angles should, indeed, commonly be a little 

 softened; the rotundity of the plant which forms 

 them is sometimes sufficient for the purpose; but if 

 they are mellowed down too much they lose all mean- 

 ing. Three or four large parts, thus boldly dis- 

 tinguished, will break a very long outline ; more may 

 be, and often ought to be, thrown in, but seldom are 

 necessary : when two woods are opposed on the sides 



