262 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



creation by artificial means, of undulations, hills, or hollows 

 in a park, would be in such evident contradiction to the natur- 

 al formation, that the eye would at once detect it as a decep- 

 tion, harmonizing badly with general nature. The best that 

 can be done in such cases, is perhaps, to produce the greatest 

 possible beauty by plantations and buildings, and not to at- 

 tempt any alterations of surface, which would be insignificant 

 and absurd. 



When however, this is not the case, but the grounds them- 

 selves, though nearly level, are surrounded by more bold and 

 spirited variations of surface, a great deal may be effected. 

 In those portions of the grounds nearest the surrounding 

 inequalities, the latter may be apparently carried into the 

 former, and the artificial sweeps, breaks, or undulations in 

 the park may be so connected with each other, and the neigh- 

 bouring irregularities, as to produce the effect of elegant art 

 joined to the charm of natural expression. 



The error into which inexperienced improvers are con- 

 stantly liable to fall, is a want of breadth and extent in their 

 designs ; which latter, when executed, are so feeble as to be 

 full of littlenesses, out of keeping with the magnitude of the 

 surrounding scene. Their designs, like the sketches of a 

 novice in drawing, are cramped and meagre. This is exem- 

 plified in ground, by their producing, instead of easy undula- 

 tions, nothing but a succession of short sweeps and hillocks, 

 like waves in .the ocean. Now the most beautiful variation 

 in ground is undoubtedly that of gradually varying lines and 

 insensible transitions of surface, and these should correspond 

 in magnitude and breadth to the size and style of the place. 

 Such surfaces are full of the flowing lines, and rounded 

 smoothnesses, which Burke considers characteristic of beauty, 



