from June 28. to August \6. 1840 299 



the water, when turned on, issues as an inverted shower, rising 

 to the height of several feet, and running down the slope, so as to 

 water the whole of it. The contriver of this arrangement, and 

 the proprietor who incurred the expense, deserve alike to be 

 commended. Notwithstanding this extraordinary care, tlie lawn 

 is far from having the smooth dark velvety green which cha- 

 racterises those of England, doubtless from the coarse kinds of 

 grass of which it is composed, and from the very sandy soil and 

 want of manure. A mixture of clay, or of clayey loam, to the 

 depth of 6 in., sown with the common lawn mixture of grasses 

 sold by the seedsmen, or with J5r6mus pratensis alone, would 

 have produced a very different surface. 



The profusion of flowers distributed over the whole of this 

 villa differs widely from any thing we have ever seen in England 

 or elsewhere. Pots of geraniums are placed all along the boundary 

 wall, next the public road, at regular distances ; on the piers of 

 the entrance gates ; and in vases, at regular distances, on the 

 parapet of both fronts of the house. The entrance lodge is 

 ornamented with them, as is the ground all round tiie mansion, 

 for several feet in width. But this is not all : the clumps and 

 groups and belts throughout the grounds are bosomed up with 

 scarlet geraniums and purple and white petunias ; so that, in 

 short, whichever way we turn we are met by masses of these 

 flowers ; by floricultural wealth in excess, with no more taste 

 than a child would display in ornamenting a baby-house. What 

 is it that prevents us from considering this profusion of flowers as 

 in good taste ? Is it merely that we are not accustomed to it in 

 England, or is there any cause in the nature of things for this 

 feeling in our mind ? We think there is. Trees and lawns dis- 

 tributed after the manner of nature are meant to imitate nature : 

 and though this imitation, to be artistical, ought to be, as much 

 as possible, in a different material from what Nature herself uses 

 in the given locality (that is, exotic trees, shrubs, and flowers 

 should be used instead of indigenous ones) ; yet, it is not an 

 imitation of nature fit for our climate, to associate plants which 

 every one knows require to be grown under glass, with trees 

 and shrubs which endure the open air ; or to place plants in 

 pots above the ground among plants which grow in the free 

 soil, and which, by their shade and the nourishment drawn from 

 the soil by their roots, would never permit the free growth of 

 such plants. It would appear, then, that this mode of displaying 

 flowers which require to be cultivated in the greenhouse, in such 

 profusion in the margin of clumps, displeases, because it is not 

 a true imitation of nature ; it being conceded that the imitation 

 of nature is the object of this particular style of landscape- 

 gardening. Two other objections might be made ; one is, that 

 what is an ornament, and, like all ornaments, ought to be used 

 sparingly, is here rendered common ; and the other is, that the 



