286 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



selves of those well known laws in perspective, which will 

 place them in the best possible position, relative to the spec- 

 tator. 



If the improver desire to render his banks still more pic- 

 turesque, resembling the choicest wiorceaw.T of natural banks, 

 he should go a step farther in arranging his materials before 

 he introduces t?ie water, or clothes the margin with vegetation. 

 In analyzing the finest portions of natural banks, it will 

 be observed that their peculiar characteristics often depend 

 on other objects, besides the mere ground of the surrounding 

 banks, and the trees and verdure with which they are clothed. 

 These are, rocks of various size, forms, and colours, often pro- 

 jecting out of, or holding up the bank in various places ; stones 

 sometimes imbedded in the soil, sometimes lying loosely 

 along the shore ; and lastly, old stumps of trees with gnarled 

 roots, whose decaying hues are often extremely mellow and 

 agreeable to the eye. All these have much to do with the 

 expression of a truly picturesque bank, and cannot be exclu- 

 ded or taken away from it without detracting largely from 

 its character. There is no reason, therefore, in an imitation 

 of nature, why we should not make use of all her materials 

 to produce a similar effect ; and although in the raw and 

 rude state of the banks at first, they may have a singular and 

 rather outre aspect, stuck round and decorated here and 

 there with large rocks, smaller stones, and old stumps of 

 trees ; yet it must be remembered that this is only the chaotic 

 state, from which the new creation is to emerge, more per- 

 fectly formed and completed ; and also that the appearance 

 of these rocks and stumps, when covered with mosses, and 

 partially overgrown with a profusion of luxuriant vegetation 

 and climbing plants, will be as beautifully picturesque after 

 a little time has elapsed, as it is now uncouth and uninviting. 



