58 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



interior of the whole ; and the various groups which are dis- 

 tributed between, should be so managed as, though in most 

 cases distinct, yet to appear to be the connecting links which 

 unite these distant shadows in the composition, with the larger 

 masses near the house. Sometimes several small groups will 

 be almost joined together ; at others the effect may be kept 

 up by a small group, aided by a few neighbouring, single 

 trees. 



The grand object in all this, should be to open to the eye 

 from the windows or front of the house, a wide surface, par- 

 tially broken up and divided by groups and masses of trees, 

 into a rmmber of pleasing lawns or openings, differing in size 

 and appearance, and producing a charming variety in the 

 scene, either when seen from a given point, or when exam- 

 ined in detail. It must not be forgotten that, as a general 

 rule, the grass or surface of the lawn answers as the princi- 

 pal light, and the woods or plantations as the shadows, in 

 the same manner in nature as in paintings, and that these 

 should be so managed as to lead the eye to the mansion as 

 the most important object when seen from without, or corres- 

 pond to it in grandeur and magnitude, when looked upon 

 |from within the house. If the surface is too much crowded 

 with groups of foliage, breadth of light will be found want- 

 ing ; if left too bare, there will be felt, on the other hand, 

 ar^ absence of the noble effect of deep and broad shadows. 



Nothing would appear to be easier, in theory, than to arrange 

 a few forest trees in the form of a natural and beautiful group. 

 Yet experience has taught us that this is not the case, and 

 that the generality of persons, in commencing their first essays 

 in ornamental planting, will almost invariably crowd their 

 trees into a close regular clumv. which has a most formal 



