ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS, 67 



be kept short by the cropping of animals, or allowed to grow 

 in a more careless and loose state, like the surface of tangled 

 dells and natural woods. 



It will be remembered that in the foregoing section, we 

 stated it as one of the leading principles of the art of Land- 

 scape Gardening, that in every instance where the grounds 

 of a country residence have a marked natural character, 

 whether of graceful or picturesque beauty, etc., the efforts 

 of the improver will be most successful, if he contribute by 

 his art to aid and strengthen that expression. This should 

 ever be borne in mind, when we are commencing any im- 

 provements in planting that will affect the general expression 

 of the scene ; as there are but few country residences in the 

 United States, of any importance, which have not naturally 

 some distinct landscape character, and the labours of the im- 

 prover will be productive of much greater satisfaction, and 

 more lasting pleasure, when they aim at effects in keeping 

 with the whole scene, than if no regard be paid to this im- 

 portant point. This will be felt almost intuitively, as it 

 were, by persons who, perhaps, would themselves be inca- 

 pable of describing the cause of their gratification, but who 

 would perceive the contrary at once ; as many are unable to 

 analyze the pleasure derived from harmony in music, while 

 they at once perceive the introduction of discordant notes. 



We do not intend that this principle should apply so close- 

 ly, that grounds naturally picturesque, must have nothing of 

 the softening touches of general beauty, or that a demesne 

 characterized by the latter expression should not be occasion- 

 ally enlivened with a few '■^ smart touches''^ of the former. 

 This is often necessary, indeed, to prevent tame scenery from 

 degenerating into insipidity, — or picturesque, into wildness 

 too great to be appropriate in a country residence, Pictur- 



