12 LAYING OUT OF GROUND 



as much as with the other, when surveying his 

 pleasure grounds. If, in the general arrangement 

 of a young plantation, a display of taste were to be 

 injurious to the welfare of the same, then I would 

 say, let taste have nothing to do in the matter; 

 but the truth is quite the reverse of this. All true 

 taste is based upon the works of nature : therefore, 

 when we make the bondings and turnings of the 

 boundary line of a plantation in conformity with the 

 securing natural strength to resist the storm, we at 

 the same time give the most pleasing effect to the 

 mind of the person who looks upon it. 



The bendings m the outline of a plantation 

 should always be made to follow the natural rising 

 and falling of the ground ; that is, where any late- 

 ral heights may project from the main body of the 

 ground laid out for a plantation, make the fence 

 line take a bold convex turn in the same direction, 

 and that just so far as may be considered neces- 

 sary for the extent in view ; and where a hollow 

 of the ground occurs, make a fence line take a 

 bold concave turn there, coming up again in the 

 form of the convex where the ground begins to 

 rise. In the laying out of a new plantation, if it 

 is at all to be seen from the windows of the pro- 

 prietor's mansion, or from any part of his pleasure 

 grounds, great care should be taken to make it 

 have the most pleasing effect when viewed from 

 such points ; for if it should be badly laid off it will 



