TREATMENT OF GROUND. FORMATION OF WALKS. 265 



the Ivy, and other species of the gayest and most luxuriant 

 flowering vines. 



Loose and detached fragments of rocks, can never be per- 

 mitted to lie scattered about the lawn, in any style. In a scene 

 expressive of general beauty, of course they would be entirely 

 out of place : and in a picturesque scene, they should only 

 be suffered to remain in spots where they have some evident 

 connection with larger masses. If they were allowed to lie 

 loosely around, they would only give an air of confused 

 wildness, opposed to every thing like the elegance of tasteful 

 art or the comfort of a country residence ; but if only seen in 

 particular spots where they evidently belong, they will, by 

 contrast, give force and spirit to the whole. We do not now 

 speak of large rounded boulders or smooth stones, such as 

 are seen lying about the soil in some of our valley tracts ; as 

 such are void of interest, and unless they are large, or in some 

 degree remarkable, they ought to be at once removed out of 

 the way. Characteristic and picturesque rocks, are those with 

 firm, rugged, and distinct outlines, externally covered with a 

 coating of weather stains, dark lichens, or mosses, and which 

 meet the eye with a mellow and softened tone of colour. 



Roads and ivalks, are so directly connected with opera- 

 tions on the surface of the ground, and with the disposition 

 of plantations, which we have already made familiar to the 

 reader, that we shall introduce in this place a few remarks 

 relative to their direction and formation. A French writer 

 has remarked of them that they are "/es ruba?is qui attachent 

 le boiiquet,^^ and they certainly serve as the connecting me- 

 dium between the different parts of the estate, as well as the 

 means of displaying its various beauties, peculiarities, and 

 finest points of prospect. 



The Approach is by far the most important of these routes. 



34 



L/ 



