TREATMENT OF GROUND. — FORMATION OF WALKS. 259 



natural deformity which may interfere with that expression. 

 Such are, unsightly ridges of earth, small lumpish hills, the 

 ragged elevations where old fences have been removed, or 

 deep furrows created by the former action of the plough. If 

 there are any uncouth pits or ugly hollows, such must be 

 either filled up, or concealed by plantations, and all excres- 

 cences that interfere with the prevailing expression of the 

 whole, should be removed. 



In the next place, the improver will examine the formation 

 of the ground, as it appears naturally. If too rugged, — the 

 sweeps and undulations sometimes easy and beautiful, at oth- 

 ers hard and disconnected, — he will endeavour to soften 

 and remove this inequality. This will be easily executed, — 

 if some of the eminences are broken into too high, sudden, 

 and abrupt hills, — by carefully lowering them into more 

 graceful elevations, and placing the superfluous earth in the 

 adjacent hollows : proper regard being paid to portions of 

 the scene, already pleasing, by producing such a surface as 

 will connect itself naturally with the same, when the im- 

 provements shall be entirely completed. 



Should the surface on the contrary, be somewhat broken 

 or undulating, but not distinctly so, appearing rather heavy 

 and undecided between a level, and finely varied ground, the 

 operations must be directed in such a manner as to increase 

 the boldness of the whole. The ground of a country resi- 

 dence is often brought into such a state by the continued ac- 

 tion of the plough at some former period, which has gradu- 

 ally levelled down the gentle eminences and filled up the 

 hollows, till in some places, it appears scarcely struggling out 

 of a level. The course is then obvious ; the superfluous earth 

 which chokes up the valleys, must be removed again to the 

 neighbouring hills, where it belongs, when the natural beau- 



