ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 53 



lowing pages, aims at the production of beauty in its most 

 graceful or picturesque forms, in the grounds of a country- 

 residence. Although to effect this art is everywhere as ne- 

 cessary as in the geometric style, yet it is always evinced as 

 the means, and not exclusively the end in view. Thus, in 

 the natural style, the gravel walks are kept as smooth, and 

 the turf is as closely mown, as in the ancient ; as these ap- 

 pearances evince cultivation, and are necessary to refined 

 comfort and enjoyment, circumstances of which we are never 

 to lose sight. For thorough keeping does not disturb the 

 expression of nature, but serves to give a polish and elegance 

 to her forms and colours which indicates a tasteful and re- 

 fined art, and mark the presence of cultivation and habitation, 

 as opposed to wild or savage nature. 



The highest aim of the natural style is, to produce an ele- 

 gant imitation of beautiful or picturesque portions of general 

 nature. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to ar- 

 range the plantations of trees and shrubs in such groups as 

 shall be natural, graceful, and beautiful ; or natural, highly 

 irregular, and picturesque. As these characters exist often 

 fully developed in wild scenery, we must study such mor- 

 ceaiix, and the delineations of these in painted landscapes, 

 to familiarize ourselves with their leading and characteristic 

 peculiarities. We must lay out the walks and roads which 

 these plantations border, in easy flowing lines, following nat- 

 ural indications, or producing them by irregularities in the 

 ground, breaks, and recesses, in the groups and masses of 

 trees, etc. We should prefer undulating surfaces to level 

 ones, (especially in preference to levelling any surface artifi- 

 cially,) on account of the greater variety and beauty the for- 

 mer afford, compared with the latter. 



It has been remarked, that the geometric style would al- 



