Pakt III. TREES NEAR THE HOUSE. 



363 



must, however, be taken that the lines of the road when 

 curved be graceful, not abrupt, arbitrarily tortuous, or' incon- 

 sistent with each other or with the character and form of the 

 ground. " The line of beauty" should be the guide in laying 

 down those curves ; and it is essential to bear in mind that 

 the same curves on a level plain and on undulating ground 

 have a very different effect, the ground itself in the latter 

 case altering their appearance, and giving to a straight line 

 another character. It is allowable, and even advisable, that 

 evergreens, which do not overshadow the house, be planted 

 up to it, at least on one side of the garden, so that sheltered 

 walks may be provided, and the means of reaching the house 

 in winter without exposure to cold winds may be afforded, for 

 those who walk to and from the grounds. Such shrubs have 

 also the, advantage of looking green both in winter and 

 summer, and do not strew the walks with leaves ; but large 

 evergreen trees should not approach the house to make it 

 damp, and obstruct the light. 



It must be acknowledged that the level plain does not 



afford the same facilities for laying out a terrace-garden as 



the gentle slope of a hill, where the succession of different 



levels adds dignity to it, and where the commanding position 



of the upper terraces affords an opportunity of enjoying the 



full effect of those below ; still it is possible to lay out a 



dressed garden in a perfectly level, spot ; and if the expense is 



not considered too great, a certain variation in the level may 



be obtained by carrying earth and raising the whole, or parts, 



of, the surface of the inner portion. When, however, this is 



found to be too costly or too troublesome, and it is thought 



sufficient to have only one geometrical garden, the space 



selected for it may even be taken from a level field or lawn ; 



and nothing more is then necessary, in order to separate it 



from the rest of the ground, than to make a sunk fence or 



fosse in that part, and to raise terraces of earth, cased with 



