LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



559 



j . 



U PART I. Planting in the Geometric or Ancient Style. 



N 77~'~" The first consideration is the nature of the whole or 

 rtti general design ; and here, as in the ground, geometric 

 forms will still prevail, and while the masses reflect 

 forms from the house, or represent squares, triangles, 

 or trapeziums, the more minute parts, characterised 

 by lines rather than forms, such as avenues, rows, 

 clumps and stars, &c. are contained in parallelograms, 

 squares, or circles. In regard to the parts, masses and 

 avenues should extend from the house in all directions, 

 so far as to diffuse around the character of design ; and 

 tat much farther in particular directions, as the nature 

 of the surface admits of, the distant beauties suggest, 

 and the character of the mansion requires. In dis- 

 posing these masses, whether on a flat or irregular sur- 

 face, regard will be had to leave uncovered such a 

 quantity of lawn or turf, as shall at all events admit a 

 free circulation of air, give breadth of light, and dis- 

 play the form of the large masses of wood. Uniformi- 

 ty and variety as a whole, and use as well as beauty in 

 the parts, 'roost be kept constantly in view. Avenues, 

 alleys, arid vistas, should serve as much as possible as 

 roads, walks, lines of fence*, or screens of shelter or 

 hade ; but where this is not the case, they should point 

 to some distant beauties, or near artificial objects, to be 

 seen at or beyond their termination. The outer extre- 

 mities of artificial plantations may either join natural 

 woods, other artificial scenes, cultivated lands, or bar- 

 ren heaths or commons. 



When artificial plantations join natural woods, the 

 avenues, alley*, and circular glades of the former may 

 be continued a certain length in the latter, so that the 

 point where the natural wood begins, and the artificial 

 plantation ends, may not be discoverable. In aid of 

 this effect, the sort of tree which prevails in the natural 

 scenes, should also prevail in the adjoining parts of the 

 artificial wood. When artificial scenes join other arti- 

 ficial scene*, nothing can be easier than by the recipro- 

 cal continuation of avenues, strips, or masses, so far to 

 unite the two seats, as to conceal the boundaries of 

 each, while the two mansions will thus each borrow a 

 splendour from the other. 



re are still existing proofs of the attention paid 

 to this subject in former times, an instance of which 

 occurs in the apparent connection by avenues between 

 Blenheim, DitchU-y, and Heythrope, though the last 

 nunston it nearly ten miles distant from the first. 



When artificial scene* join cultivated lands, if those 

 lands are encloted, broad strip*, hedge-rows, square or 

 round clumps in the angles of the fields, with such re- 

 ciprocal disposition of lines or forms as the case may 

 suggest, will continue the character of artificial planta- 

 tion ; and where roads are necessary, if utility doe* 

 not forbid, they should be formed in part as avenues, 

 in continuation of those within the artificial scene. 



When artificial plantations are bounded by barren 

 heaths or commons all that can be done is to advance- 

 beyond the boundary of the place, portions of avenues, 

 and rows of trees of different lengths. Sometime* an 

 inequality, crowned by a clump or thicket, may pro- 

 note the idea. On other occasions, where the heath 

 or waste may be so black as to convey no agreeable 

 expression, and therefore is, of course, struck out en- 

 tirely from the improved scene, a sort of connection 

 may be given, by advancing strips or rows from the 

 boundary plantation into the heath. Even single or 

 scattered treat, if they can be protected in that situa- 



tion, will have a tendency to produce that sort of con. Of the Afu- 

 nection required ; and, while it gratifies the proprietor's trials of 

 love of appropriation, will please the eye of the travel- Garde "j"-, 

 ler, who views the country as a whole, and delights to \vooif"" 

 observe the harmony and beauty of its principal fea- Geometric 



planting. 



Having disposed of the whole, and of the parts, as 

 far as respects their general effect and connection, what 

 remains to be considered is, the sort of tree, manner of 

 disposing the plants, fences, and future management. 



The object in view, the expression of art and design, Species of 

 suggests the propriety of employing different species to tree. 

 those which are natural to, or most abound in the sur- 

 rounding country. In a country of common firs, the 

 spruce and silver fir, and cedar, afford a choice. In a 

 country of oaks or elms, chesnuts, limes, and planes, 

 form suitable contrasts. Where the plantations are ex- 

 tensive, the value of the timber must always be a prin- 

 cipal object ; and, therefore, the contrasted trees should 

 be chosen accordingly. Some species, however, are so 

 happily adapted for this style, and as ornamental trees 

 in both styles, that they ought seldom to be admitted 

 near the house. Such, for example, as the horse ches- 

 nut, lime, Spanish chesnut, plane, lucombe oak, cedar, 

 stone pine, &o. As the four last species mentioned 

 are in exposed situations, liable to injury from extraor- 

 dinary severe winters, a few hardier sorts, resembling 

 them in general appearance, should be intermingled in 

 the plantation, to preserve the larger masses in case of 

 accident, but to conform with the general effect in co- 

 lour and style of foliage, as well as in form. Different 

 species ought not in general to be mixed together in 

 the masses ; one, or at most two, conforming varieties 

 is sufficient, more would destroy the breadth of colour 

 of the mass, and the character of its surface. Different 

 mmsei, avenues, and more minute parts, may, how- 

 ever, be planted with different species of trees ; rare 

 sorts may be also introduced in lines, along the front 

 of many of the masses, ranged along stars, putvs-d'oye, 

 &C. The snow-drop tree, from its beautiful blossoms, 

 and the birch and hazel, for the display of their catkins 

 during winter, are well calculated for walks adapted to 

 that season of the year, and should be planted in front 

 of firs, or other evergreens. Such also is the principal 

 situation for flowering shrubs, and no plants can be 

 more showy than the horse chesnut, common lilac, 

 acacia, guclderrose, Portugal laurel, holly, birdcherry, 

 mcspilus, and laburnum, in similar situations, and for 

 general purposes. In distributing the species of tree 

 in general masses, the same general principles of com- 

 position must be attended to, which we have pointed 

 out as far as respects form. The colours and character 

 of the heads of the trees must be connected, and, at the 

 same time, to a certain degree contrasted, in order to 

 produce an artificial and yet harmonious effect. 



It may perhaps be asked here, whether the new va- 

 rieties of American, and other shrubs, obtained since 

 the introduction of landscape gardening, are to be ad- 

 mitted under this style of improvement ? We answer, 

 certainly. There can be little doubt they would de- 

 stroy part of the allusion to an ancient place; but wa 

 do not contend for the revival of the ancient style, as 

 producing imitations and illusive characters, or on ac- 

 count of its antiquity, but as a distinct mode of garden- 

 ing. We would therefore not copy its faults, or study 

 its defects, but add to its beauties from all the resources 

 furnished by the present improved state of the arts of 

 design, as well as by the continued accession to our 

 stock of trees and shrubs. 



