On Garden Architecture. 19 



garden. But a plot of ground, however small, in which the objects 

 (many or few, according to its size and the style which it assumes) are de- 

 signed, selected, and combined with artistic views of their natures and rela- 

 tions, so that, in whatever aspect the spectator may behold them, he receives 

 a sense of delight, arising not only from the beauty of the individual objects, 

 but heightened by the harmonious relations which they bear to each other, 

 is truly a garden. 



The objects which may enter into the combination of a garden are quite 

 numerous ; but, for our present purpose, they may be divided into two classes, 

 the natural and the artificial. Of the natural objects are flowers, shrubs, 

 trees, walks, turf or grass, and water in its various forms ; all of which in a 

 garden must be made amenable to the laws of harmony and contrast which 

 govern the design. Of the artificial objects are gateways, terraces, steps, 

 balustrades, vases, fountains, basins, statues, pavilions, &c. ; all of which in 

 a garden should be in the most exquisite taste of which the style selected 

 is capable. 



It is the purpose of the present article to treat of the artificial objects 

 which may enter into the composition of a garden, under the head of " Gar- 

 den Architecture ; " all these objects coming within the province of the archi- 

 tect to design and arrange. It is obvious, that, as the use of a garden is to 

 delight, it should, as far as possible, be so designed as never to present a dis- 

 agreeable aspect ; never to call up unpleasant ideas and associations ; never 

 to suggest unhappy trains of thought. Now, the natural objects which enter 

 into the composition of a garden are constantly changing : with many of them 

 their beauty buds and blooms, and wanes to decay. It is the business of 

 the gardener so to plant, arrange, tend, and dress the plants and flowers, that 

 this constant change will, as much as possible, lend beauty to the garden ; 

 as little as possible give to the natural transitions the signs of decline and 

 death : and it is the business of the architect so to design and combine 

 the artificial objects, that they may add to the beauty of the garden when 

 the natural objects with which they are surrounded are in the prime and 

 plenitude of their beauty, and leave as little as possible to be desired by 

 the lover of beauty when both leaf and flower have withered and decayed. 

 Many artificial objects which are generally considered as peculiarly in place 

 in a garden are thus at once seen to be properly excluded. Of these 



