io8 On Garden Architecture. 



not look crowded together. The difficulty of doing so satisfactorily is 

 entirely one of judgment of position and harmonious combination. Stat- 

 ues in such a situation should not be placed on high pedestals; and great 

 care should be taken to give them a proper point of view and a simple and 

 harmonious background. It should be borne in mind that thev will 

 almost invariably be best seen from the lower level. A very long flight 

 of steps, to correspond to very rich surroundings, may be decorated both 

 at the top and the bottom ; but in this case the upper portion should be 

 the principal one, in accordance with the reasons already given. 



It has already been remarked, that there are two kinds of terraces : the 

 architectural decoration of the first, or earth-slope, we have just been con- 

 sidering; the other is entirely an architectural creation. This has no slope 

 whatever. The edge of the terrace is bounded and sustained by a wall ; 

 and, this making a perpendicular descent, a guard of some kind becomes 

 indispensable to prevent persons from inadvertently stepping off. This 

 necessity, so simple, and easily provided for, has been made the foundation 

 of some of the most superb works of mere decorative architecture, 

 exercising all the invention and skill of the architect in their design and 

 execution; for, if it is necessary to have a parapet, why not an elegant 

 one ? If steps and approaches are required, why not make them on a 

 grand scale? With the earth-slope, no parapet or balustrade is required. 

 There is no danger of walking off it; and, as there is no more danger 

 of this on the steps than at the upper edge of the slope, no balustrade is 

 required at the steps; and it would be quite out of harmony to place one 

 here, and omit it at the upper edge of the slope. There are other 

 reasons why the earth-slope should not have a parapet or balustrade. If 

 built, it must rest upon a wall. This wall must be solid, and be set deep 

 enough in the ground to avoid the effect of frost. But why, if you have a 

 wall, have also a slope ? Again : the sods are always dropping away from 

 a wall, where they are laid up to it on a slope ; and the line of junction 



becomes ragged, uneven, and disagreeable. 



Hatn»iatt Bil/ings. 



