364 DRESSED OR GEOMETRICAL GARDENS. Paet III. 



masonry, above it, which may define its limits. And these 

 artificial terraces, surmounted by stone balustrades, and stand- 

 ing a few feet above the general level, afford a sufficiently 

 strong line of demarcation, and, if properly managed, do away 

 with the impression of the garden having been part of the 

 level space from which it was derived. There may also be 

 another garden beyond it (which may be called a " border- 

 garden"), with irregular walks and borders, planted with trees, 

 shrubs, and flowers, taken from the same level space, and 

 separated from the geometrical garden by the balustrade and 

 low terrace ; in which case the sunk fence may bound the 

 outer instead of the inner dressed-garden. When, however, in 

 laying out grounds of moderate size, an impression of greater 

 extent is desirable, their separation from the open space, or 

 meadow, beyond should not be visible, and the eye should be 

 carried on at once beyond the sunk fence without perceiving 

 its presence. The following arrangement of the gardens may 

 also be suggested: — 1. An inner geometrical garden nearest 

 to the house ; 2. Another one, less formal in its character, 

 beyond it; 3. The undressed " border-garden " beyond this 

 again : each separated from the outer one by balustrades and 

 low terraces, and the outer one separated from the open grass 

 land, the park, or the lawn, by the sunk fence. The lawn 

 too, in that part nearest the house and garden, may be planted 

 with cedars and various handsome trees ; but no large piece 

 of water should be near the house ; and above all, an arti- 

 ficial lake, with little or no stream passing through it, should 

 be forbidden in its immediate vicinity. Still less admissible 

 is it if a river runs through the same grounds, or if any 

 natural piece of water forms part of the landscape. 



The position and even the form of a garden is always required 

 to conform to that of the house and any other buildings, as well 

 as to the peculiarities of the site. The architecture of the house 

 must also be considered ; and though I do not think it necessary 



