1018 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING 



Paht III. 



cidental circumstances. The principle of a sufficient reason ought never to he lost sight 

 of in laying out walks and roads ; that is, no deviatiom from a straight line should ever 

 appear, for which a reason is not given in the position of the ground, trees, or other ac- 

 companying objects. 



7244. The finest description of hill or mountain walk is where the path is carried along the declivity on 

 a perfect level, or where it winds round the hill by a gradual and regular ascent, here crossing a smooth 

 slope and there forcing its way through rugged rocks, always preserving the same easy ascent or descent. 

 When the views from such walks are grand and extensive, and especially if they include part of a river, 

 a lake, or the sea seen through a proper foreground of trees, nothing of the kind can be more noble. 



7245 Of valley walks, one on the wooded banks of a winding river, with cascades, or running over a 

 rocky bed, the path sometimes accompanying the stream, at other times both retiring or separating from 

 each other, till the sound of the water is scarcely heard through the wood, and then meeting again, 

 accompanied by open glade or meadow, with the other variations of which such scenery is susceptible, 

 may be reckoned among the finest of the kind. 



7246. Fences are accompaniments common to both styles of landscape ; they are 

 either permanent or temporary, and, in both cases, have been treated of in considering the 

 subject of planting (6820.) and wood. (7203.) 



7247. Animated nature. Deer, wild and tame hares, cattle, sheep, game, singing 

 birds, all belong to a residence, and are necessary to complete its beauty. Pheasants 

 and other game, ranging un- ^. a m, ^ 

 dismayed by man, in garden- ^y^^g^ *v> ^S^W*^^' 

 scenes, give a high idea of se- 

 clusion and removal from com- 

 mon nature ; the finer sorts 

 may be retained in appropriate 

 structures (fig. 714.), and the 

 common left to themselves, but 

 liberally supplied with food. 

 The cawing of rooks, the shriek- 

 ing of the owl, the screams of 

 peacocks, the notes of birds, 

 are all desirable circumstances 

 in certain situations, and ought 

 to be attended to, by intro- 

 ducing such trees or plants as 

 are favorable to their increase. 

 The smoke of a cottage or a 

 farm-house, the view of a distant village, the spire of a church, a water-mill, or a ruin, 

 all become interesting in certain cases ; and with a thousand other instances of natural 

 expression, in a great measure beyond the reach of art, will be sought for, and turned to 

 account by the judicious artist. 



Chap. III. 



Of the Union of tlie Materials of Landscape- Gardening, in forming the constituent Parts 

 of a Country- Residence. 



7248. Having applied the principles of natural and relative beauty to the materials of 

 gardening separately, we shall next apply the same principles to the formation of those scenes 

 of use, convenience, or elegance, which form the constituent parts of a country-residence. 



124:9. The mansion and offices first demand attention, as the central feature of art and 

 refinement. What relates to the design of these groups of buildings belongs to archi- 

 tecture ; but the situation, aspect, style, and accompaniments are within our province. 

 In determining the situation, a great variety of circumstances, some of a general, and 

 others of a local or peculiar nature, require to be taken into consideration. Natural 

 shelter, dry sub-soil, the view of the house from a distance, and the distant prospect seen 

 from the house, belong to the former ; and removal from the boundary of a public road, 

 suitableness of the adjoining grounds for the garden-scenes which accompany mansions, 

 trees already there, or so situated as to aid the effect, &c. belong to the latter. Accord- 

 ing to Repton, the choice of a situation ought to be founded on, " First, The natural 

 character of the surrounding country : Secondly, The style, character, and size of the 

 house : Thirdly, The aspects or exposure, both with regard to the sun and the prevalent 

 winds of the country : Fourthly, The shape of the ground near the house : Fifthly, 

 The views from the several apartments : and, Sixthly, the numerous objects of comfort ; 

 such as a dry soil, a supply of good water, proper space for offices, with various other 

 conveniences essential to a mansion in the country ; and which in a town may sometimes 

 be dispensed with, or at least very differently disposed." 



~u?' ^ arran K e these considerations according to their respective weight or influence is hardly possible ; 

 " this must depend on a comparison of one with the other, under a variety of circumstances ; and even 017 



