1004 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



PART III. 



7199. The removal of accidental deformities forms one of the commonest operations on 

 ground. Old quarries and other pits, useless cattle-ponds, open drains, mounds of earth, 

 marks of ridges, are to be considered of this description. As they have been raised by 

 art, so in dispersing them, the best general rule is to restore the natural surface ; but 

 sometimes the remains of fences are so numerous, that advantage may be taken of the 

 earth to be removed, and some variety given to a surface otherwise dull and featureless. 

 If the fence consists of a great number of turns of different lengths, by removing both 

 the mound and part of the surface on each side of the drain, a small winding hollow or 

 vale may be formed : the effect of which may be heightened, by placing the earth re- 

 moved on adjoining indications of natural eminences ; not so as to form knolls, but so as 

 to connect and harmonise with the prevailing idea of expression. The most simple and 

 obvious improvement of exhausted quarries and dry pits, is to plant them ( fig. 685.) ; 

 this, though it will form a series of pleasing scenes, is not always consistent with the 



general expression to be created, and such groups as would arise from these spots, might 

 destroy breadth of light and connection, independently of excluding distant objects. In 

 this case, they must be filled up by under-growths, or by lowering the adjoining surface 

 in such a way as not to interfere with general effect, or a sufficient descent for the surface- 

 water. Where broken ground enters into the idea of the composition to be effected, open 

 drains, or hollow pits, afford fine sources of picturesque beauty, especially if the ground 

 is dry, or can be readily under-drained. This character, however, can seldom be intro- 

 duced as an original feature ; but in ground naturally leading to abrupt and broken lines, 

 it may be more desirable to improve this expression, than attempt creating a more polished 

 surface. In cases of this sort, almost every thing depends on the introduction of wood, 

 copse, and verdant roughnesses, to harmonise the broken surface ; for mere broken ground, 

 without a character of luxuriance and wildness communicated by wood, is seldom better 

 on a smaller scale than a surface deformed by scars. 



7200. Natural bumps or excrescences (Jig. 686. a), as well as pits (6), are not un- 

 common in many grounds which have not been subjected to agricultural improvement. 



When these are not large, the process of fallowing with the plough will remove them ; 

 when they are of some magnitude, they may often become sources both of polished and 

 picturesque beauty. If they are numerous and favorably distributed, by the removal 

 of some, and the enlargement through that means of others, they may give an impres- 

 sion of undulation, especially if situated on a naturally irregular surface. If on a de- 

 clivity, and covering rocks or huge stones, a mixture of flowing lines with abruptnesses 

 may be happily introduced. 



7201. A varied but yet dull surface may often be improved by a skilful artist. By 

 studying the character indicated by nature, it will generally be found, that the defi- 

 ciency of expression is owing to the hollows being in part clogged up, either naturally or 

 by long continuation under the plough ; and the swells lowered in a corresponding de- 

 gree by the same process. In this case, the obvious improvement is to remove earth 

 from the hollows, and place it on the eminences, ever keeping in view the natural ex- 

 pression, and avoiding to end the improvement, by leaving the hollows gutters, and the 

 eminences pointed ridges. This sort of improvement is not a very obvious one, though 

 often attended with surprising effects, for every foot of depth taken from a hollow, and 

 laid on an adjoining hill, adds two feet to the height of the latter. All these observ- 

 ations will be understood as referring to grounds near the house. 



7202. Distant scenes of a park, as hills, or mountains (Jig. 687.), are only to be im- 

 proved by wood ; and these remarks, in so far as they extend, will suggest not what is 

 to be removed, but what must be concealed. Many excellent hints on this part of 

 the subject are to be found in the picturesque tours of Gilpin, referring to ranges of 



