260 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



ty of the ground will be restored. This is eifected with 

 comparative facility, as every foot of surface taken from the 

 depression, adds by removal two feet to the height of the 

 adjoining elevation. 



The improvement of picturesque surfaces must proceed 

 in a similar manner. When a surface is naturally and truly 

 picturesque, art will add little or nothing to its effect. It 

 will rather therefore endeavour to produce a perfect whole? 

 and a connection between the various parts, than to disturb 

 the existing features. In the vicinity of the house, the artist 

 will soften down that boldness and inequality which, if too 

 great, might interfere both with convenience and the beauty 

 of utility^ which must there be constantly kept in view. 

 Otherwise, the beauty of picturesque surfaces may be often 

 heightened by various means within our reach ; such as in- 

 creasing the abruptness of surface by taking away a few feet 

 of earth, or by adding other picturesque irregularities, which 

 by connection may strengthen the expression of the whole. 



Mr. Price has remarked, that " the ugliest ground is that 

 which has neither the beauty of smoothness, verdure, and 

 gentle undulation, nor the picturesqueness of bold and sud- 

 den breaks, and varied tints of soil : of such kind, is ground 

 that has been disturbed and left in that unf ^,ished state : as 

 in a rough ploughed field run to sward."*- Such ground it 

 is often difficult to restore to a picturesque state, even when 

 that was its previous expression. But it is not impossible to 

 do so, for it must be remembered that it is not hy forming 

 the surface alone that nature renders it picturesque, but also 

 by the accessories and accompaniments which she liberally 

 bestows upon the surface when once formed. These are, 



* Essay on the Picturesque, I, 193. 



