Liter ary Notices. 31 1 



the statements of the author, and so render the book better 

 adapted to tlic wants of American readers. 



These things having been said in all frankness, let us pass to 

 speak ot the great pleasure the book has ulTorded us. In the first 

 place, it is written in ;i iiUiin, unambitious style, as if it had been 

 the aim of the author to give the greatest possible amount of in- 

 formation in the fewest possible words. It proceeds upon the 

 supposition that the reader's taste is already somewhat formed, 

 and that his zeal needs little stimulus. It comes to guide that 

 zeal, and to help that taste in accomplishing some real and impor- 

 tant object. Our country abounds with persons intent upon lay. 

 ing out new grounds or improving old ones, and who wish to 

 create scenes of beauty around their homes. They have read, in 

 prose and poetrj^, of velvet lawns, and leafy groves, and thickets, 

 and groups, and mazes, and statues, and vases ; but they have no 

 clear and definite conceptions of what they wish to accomplish, 

 and much less do they know how to go to work in order to realize 

 the scenes floating dimly in their imaginations. They do not 

 know where to cut down a tree, or where to plant one : where to 

 clear up shrubbery, or where to set it : where, or when, or how to 

 plant evergreens, or deciduous trees, singly or in groups. To 

 such persons this book will furnish many valuable suggestions. 

 It lays down principles which if the amateur planter studies and 

 faithfully applies, he will not go far astray. 



There is a great variety of subjects treated here for a book of 

 360 pages. The headings of the chapters are as follows : — The 

 House and Ofiices ; the Approach ; Pleasure Grounds and Flower 

 Gardens ; the Park ; Ornamental Character of Trees, detached 

 and in combination ; Planting ; Fences of the Park and Pleasure 

 Grounds ; Water ; the Kitchen ; Fruit and Forcing Gardens ; 

 Public Parks and Gardens ; the Villa : General Observations on 

 the Laying-out and Improvements of Grounds : the Arboretum ; 

 the Pinetum. Under these several heads, the author takes a Avide 

 scope, and furnishes valuable information. 



It will be observed, also, that .some topics are discussed here 

 which do not always find a place in books of this kind. That of 

 Public Parks, for instance, is of great im^rtance just now to 

 American readers. The authorities of our young and thriving 

 cities would do well to read and digest Mr. Smith's cliapter on 



