The Choice of a Place 17 



hill itself will afford some degree of shelter and of back- 

 ground, which, with the necessary planting, will soon give a 

 new place a habitable look, such as scarcely any amount of 

 growth in the trees would impart to the crown of a hill. 



That the best views of things beyond a garden may be had 

 from a partial elevation will be too obvious to need enforcing. 

 In regard to water however, which forms such a beautiful 

 and interesting addition to a landscape, a point of view con- 

 siderably above its level will reveal its outline and extent 

 more distinctly, and is therefore better adapted for large and 

 bold sheets of it than for smaller lakes. Still, it will always 

 be more pleasing and comfortable to be a good deal above a 

 piece of water that it may seem in a valley and that the 

 garden may convey the impression of being elevated. 



It is far from being desirable that only the features of 

 nature should, be seen from a place. The better parts of 

 detached neighboring houses, good public buildings, places 

 of worship, etc., if nicely brought into view, will give an air 

 of habitation and sociality to a district. Rows of houses 

 however, or masses of cottages, unless the latter be pleasing 

 in themselves or picturesquely grouped, will be very unsightly 

 and unsuitable constituents of a landscape. And a spot that 

 overlooks a town, except partially and from a height and so 

 as to catch merely the principal buildings, need never be 

 sought. Still, glimpses of a navigable river, in the immediate 

 vicinity of a large town, may, from the variety and motion 

 of the craft employed upon it, give animation and beauty 

 to a scene. So, likewise, a distant view of a town or of a 

 portion of it where there is any irregularity of surface, or 

 where the principal buildings serve to compose a picture, 

 which is framed by nearer trees and plantations, may occa- 

 sionally be rendered attractive and even striking. 



10. Aspect. — The principal aspect of a house like that 



