116 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



these cases, we are supposing the sun to act upon all these 

 objects with equal splendor : for there are some days when 

 the whole sky is so full of jarring lights, that the shadiest 

 groves and avenues hardly preserve their solemnity ; and 

 there are others when the atmosphere, like the last glazing 

 of a picture, softens intb mellowness whatever is crude 

 throughout the landscape. 



This is peculiarly the effect of twilight : for at that delight- 

 ful time, even artificial water, however naked, tame and 

 edgy its banks, will often receive a momentary charm ; when 

 all that is scattered and cutting, all that disgusts a painter's 

 eye, is blended together in one broad and soothing harmony 

 of light and shadow. lu fact twilight does what an im- 

 prover ought to do ; it connects what was before scattered ; 

 it fills up staring meagre vacancies ; it destroys edginess ; 

 and by giving shadow as well as light to water, at once 

 increases both its brilliancy and softness. 



The author disapproves of objects painted white or red, as 

 giving them an appearance of standing out, detached, as it 

 were, from the landscape. One of the most charming effects 

 of sunshine is its giving to objects, not merely light, but 

 that mellow golden hue so beautiful in itself, and which when 

 diffused, as in a fine afternoon, over the whole landscape, 

 creates a delightful union and harmony. But if any one 

 object should be produced of so glaring a white as not to 

 partake of that general hue, the whole attention will be 

 drawn to that one point.. If there are several, the eye will 

 be distracted among them. Again, when the sun breaks out 

 in gleams, there is something that delights and surprises, in 

 seeing an object, before only visible, lighted up iu s])lendor, 

 and then gradually sinking into shade. But a whitened 

 object is already lighted up ; it remains so when everything 

 has retired into obscurity ; it still forces itself into notice • 

 still impudently stares yon in the face. 



With respect to colors, soft, fresh and delicate hues are 

 beautiful ; sombre, sere and weather stained tints are ])ictur- 

 csque. Among the former are the hues of delicate flowers 

 and of the evening sky : among the latter the autumnal hues 



