308 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE, 



In the fourth and last book, the author treats of paths and 

 of buildings. He begins, as every writer since has done, by 

 condemning straight lines and right angles, and recommend- 

 ing the graceful serpentine walk, and advises that the paths 

 should be constructed in such a manner as to ornament the 

 prospects which they show. 



" To all the fairest aspects let them lead, 

 With artful skill you bid the stranger's eye 

 Avoid disgust, and every grace descry : 

 As on he goes, you bid fair prospects smile, 

 And e'en new beauties his return beguile; 

 Amused and still drawn on by fresh surprise, 

 From scenes that fade, he views new scenes arise. 

 What though you feed this hope, you never cloy ; 

 And, oft to heighten, you protract his joy." 



He ridicules all labyrinths, as well as all formal and syste- 

 matic lines, and advises that every path should seem to have 

 a purpose by leading to some important object or prospect, 

 though it be a monument or an inscription. But he exclaims, 



" Far be removed each vain, capricious show. 

 Urns without grief, and artificial woe. 

 Each monument of dogs and birds disdain ; 

 Insult not sorrow, nor the grave profane." 



And he advises, if you have no deceased friend to celebrate 

 by such a monument, to erect one to some virtuous person 

 among the humble children of toil, who deserves to be re- 

 membered for his generous deeds and his honest life. 



There is more poetry than precept in this last book, but it 

 is pleasing to observe how unsparing is his censure of all 

 counterfeit objects. Some persons, he remarks, are so de- 

 lighted with these follies that they convert their grounds into 

 a wild chaos of buildings : 



" Kiosk, pagoda, obelisk, and dome, 

 Drawn from Arabia, China, Greece and Rome, 

 In one small spot, profusely barren, hurled ■ 

 Each quarter of the wide extended world." 



He would exclude all idle ornaments, but would not hide 

 the useful and rustic buildings and implements of the farm. 

 Let all the rural geer be seen, — sledges, harrows, wagons and 



