34 THE ART AND PRACTICE OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



burlesque in fact. Variety within limit of the natural means, and of 

 such aids as art may supply, should indeed be a predominating aim. 

 To that end to create fresh picturesqueness, to open out fresh views, and 

 by contrasts of colour, of line, and of level to tempt Nature herself to 

 exercise her fascinations, so direct on our conceptions, so difficult to bring 

 into dry definition, is worthy of our best effort. The creation in well- 

 chosen position of objects of special interest, such as a rose garden, 

 an herbaceous enclosed garden, an old-fashioned allee of clipped yew, 

 box, or lime, or a secluded rockery, filled with choice Alpine plants, 

 through which, breaking by a cascade from the upper ground, a little 

 stream rushes, and then meanders to the lake below ; or a seat covered 

 with climbing plants, that perhaps half hide some quaint inscription, or 

 mark the site of a local legend of old time ; these are all legitimate 

 means to the same end. But of more consideration than all of them 

 should be the general appearance of the surrounding ground, which 

 must compel the conviction that here Nature is but tutored, not 

 fettered, yet tempted to the expression of her beauties in the freedom 

 of favouring conditions. 



When the lines of distant views are determined, it is necessary 

 that details be carefully considered, so that no breaks be introduced 

 in the direct line of sight. In regard to one such view, walks may 

 be arranged to lead in the direction of the best point for realising 

 the prospect, and they may curve round this point, sunk below it ; 

 but the lawn up to that position must be hollowed out, or concave, 

 so that the eye may be tempted to range up this valley, in the centre 

 of which, or in the line of sight, there must not be planting, although 

 there may be planting on either side (see Plan, fig. B}; or, in another 

 case, there may be a long stretch of lawn ; in a third, especially 

 if the view be narrowed to a single object, such as a church spire, 

 a simple break in the planting, through which the vision will instinc- 

 tively pierce, will be enough, and the object will appear, as it were, 



