LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



56.3 



tion of the trees. But we consider it greatly preferable not 

 tn de]x>nd entirely on thinning and pruning, but to fol- 

 low Uie suggestion given above, of " mixing a few trees, 

 with a greet many under-growths." It would be a hap- 

 py circumstance for both useful and ornamental plant- 

 ing, if tlii- -i i ggestion were considered as a general rule, 

 and with that of " plant the hills and leave bare vallies," 

 the essential part Of planting would be included in the 



two maxims. 



SECT. III. Water. 



This material is of so captivating and interesting a 

 description in the different characters in which it occurs 

 Mire, that tin view can be reckoned complete in 

 which it doe* not compose a feature. It forms a part 

 at every garden in the ancient style, in the various ar- 

 tificial characters which it there assumes of oblong ca- 

 nals, pond*, bason*, -uv\ jets- ft a HI ; and in modem im- 

 provement, such i* the value attached to its effect, that 

 no place is deemed perfect without a river or lake ; and 

 Men is the indiscriminate desire of obtaining them, that 

 tare has been too frequently disregarded in their 

 form and situation. Of the character-, which water as- 

 sumed under the geometric style, we can only observe, 

 that their name* convey, in a great degree, an idea of 

 the forms. Their situation* were near the mansion ; 

 and their marginal accompaniments of masonry, turf 

 walk*, and hedges, were determined !>y the architectu- 

 ral form* and lines of the capital feature in the - 

 The choice, fnnn the mort intricate and curiou* foun- 

 tain* to the plain oblong canal, depended on the xplc-n- 

 dour of the general design ; very little on natural situa- 

 tion. The supply was generally obtained from some 

 concealed re*ervoir. In landscape gardening, the ob- 

 ject i* to imitate lake*, rivers, or rills, and their accom- 

 paniment* ; and of each of these natural characters, we 

 shall remark the leading circumstances in the original* 



.l!lll till- llr It.ltl' 'II-. 



All water i* either running or stagnant. Lake*, 

 pood*, and pool*, are of the former class ; riven, ri\ u- 

 leU, and rill*, of the Utter description. In certain si- 

 tuation*, lakes may be created where tiieir supply is 

 moderate; riven and rill* only when it is abundant. 

 Both character*, when they exist in nature, may be im- 

 proved by studying the natural characteristics of each 



The flnt consideration respecting water in wh.it- 



it may appear, i* it* situation relatively to 

 the character of the ground's surface. No situation in 

 which this material may be supposed to exist and ex- 

 pand itself into a body, can be truly natural, that is nut 

 to be considered a* a vale, flat, or hollow . Mountain 

 stream* are out of the question ; and small lake* or 

 pools, in hollow* or elevated ground*, are more to be 

 considered a* accidental than a* general nature. ! 

 artificial lake* or river* on a con- . .tie, to In- 



natural, moat either be, or seem to be, situated in tin- 

 part of the landscape then under the eye. II' 

 rie, if placed on the side of :i declivity over 

 which the eye can range at the same time, it may be 

 attractive to a strai -t view ; but the want of 



truth or fidelity to the thing to lie imitated, will soon 

 bring on an increasing aversion in the mind of genuine 



I'omdi in different level* seen in the same view, are 

 very objectionable un this principle. The little beauty 

 they dipiay.a spots, ill compensate* for the want of 

 propriety ; and the leading idea which they suggest, is 



a question between their present situation and their of the Ma- 

 non-existence. The choice, therefore, as to the situa- terials of 

 tion of water, must ever depend more on natu- Gardening. 



ral circumstances than proximity to the mansion. Is .""" """"' 



V Water. . 



then all water to be excluded, that is not in the lower 



grounds ? \Ve have no hesitation in answering this Sltuatlon - 

 question in the affirmative so far 'as respects the prin- 

 cipal views, and when a lower level than that in which 

 the water is proposed to be placed is seen in the same 

 view. But in respect to recluse scenes, which Addi- 

 son compares to episodes to the general design, we 

 would admit, and even copy these ponds on the sides 

 or even tops of hill*, which we have designated as acci- 

 dental beauties of nature. 



A beautiful lake, or part of a circuitous body of wa- Lakes. 

 ter, considered as a whole, will be found to exhibit a 

 form, characterized bv breadth rather than length ; by 

 that degree of regularity in its outline as a whole, 

 which confers that, which, in common language, is call- 

 ed sliaix- ; and by that angularity in the parts of 

 this outline, which produces variety and intricacy. 

 Supposing the situation to he tixed on for the imitation 

 of a lake, the arti.-t is to consider the broadest and most 

 circuitous hollow as his principal mass or breadth of 

 water, and which he will extend or diminish according 

 to the extent of aquatic views the place may require. 

 I'rom this he may continue a chain of connected masses 

 of water, or lakes of different magnitudes and shapes, 

 in part suggested by the character of the ground, in 

 part by the facilitie- of planting near than, and in part 

 i>y Ins own views of propriety and beauty. The out- 

 line of the plan of the lake, is to be varied by the con- 

 trasted position of bays, inlets, and smaller indentations, 

 on the same principles which we suggested for varying 

 a maw of wood. To the irregularity of outlines so pro- 

 duced, island- and (/ may lie added on the same prin- 

 ciple and for the same objects as thickets and groups. 

 This will complete the character and beauty of the 

 plan of the water ; but the grand effect of this element 

 in landscape, de|H-nds on wood as its accompaniment. 

 The variety and intricacy of outline, the reflection" of 

 forms and colours, the shady recesses and flickering lines 

 of light, all depend on trees. These are not to be spa- 

 ringly or indiscriminately scattered around the margin, 

 but lil>erally in some places, for the sake of a contrast- 

 ed ma.-s of grateful colour or shade, to relieve the bril- 

 liancy of the water ; and with discrimination every 

 where to mark the beauties, and heighten the variety 

 of the outline, without destroying breadth of effect, or a 

 whole, either as respects the water alone, or the entire 



The marginal bankt of water are next to be consi- 

 dered. 



In nature, they are tame or bold, gravelly or sedgy, Margin, or 

 stony or rocky, according to the character of the sur- bankt of 

 rounding ground. Art, therefore, must imitate each water> 

 in its proper place, not always by a studious pictur- 

 esque arrangement of the marginal accompaniments in 

 each case, but by excavating the ground-work, plant- 

 ing the trees and shrubs, and leaving the rest to the 

 motion of the waves of the water. After the effects 

 of one winter, stones or gravel may be deposited in 

 pot* suitable for stony or gravelly shores. But to en- 

 ter into this, and many other circumstances in the imi- 

 tation of lakes, would exceed the proper limits. We 

 add two cautions. The first is, in all cases of the beau- 

 tiful picturesque, so to arrange by puddling and under- 

 draining, that a marshy appearance may not surround 

 the lake ; and that rushes, ami such aquatic plants, may 



