Defects inPleasure-Grounds. 151 



to try all the things I have mentioned as soon as possible, 

 and to let me know what you think of them. There are 

 twelve practical gardeners of us in this neighbourhood tryino- 

 every experiment that we can think of; and if we find any 

 thing worth notice, I shall take the earliest opportunity of 

 letting you know. I remain, Sir, yours, &c. 



Peter Martin. 

 Leeds, Feb. 28. 1832. 



Art. VIII. On certain Defects in Pleasure- Grounds ', and the Mode 

 of avoiding them. By Mr. Robert Errington. 



Sir, 



It sometimes happens, in viewing the grounds connected with gentle- 

 men's seats, that we do not derive that complete satisfaction which we 

 think the thing capable of giving, and which, the expense and other things 

 considered, they might be expected to afford. I believe that this happens, 

 in no small degree, from the want of connection in the several parts of 

 which such scenery is necessarily composed ; every improvement, as it is 

 called, which takes place, not possessing sufficient relation to the other 

 parts, and of course causing those blemishes which generally attach to 

 after-thought. However, much depends on the way in which the orna- 

 mental department is planted and conducted; and as a desire of improving 

 the present style seems general, I venture to offer a few loose thoughts on 

 the subject. Although I have nothing new to offer, and am not so much 

 of the painter as some of your clever correspondents, still I hope some- 

 thing in my paper may be found useful, as I have practised considerably in 

 these matters, for the last four years especially. However, I invite honest 

 criticism, without which truth would scarcely get fair play. 



I will suggest, in the first place, that intricacy and elegance of outline 

 are not sufficiently attended to either in the formation of shrubbery masses 

 and of groups, or in the style of planting. How frequently we see fine 

 specimens of timber and ornamental trees as studiously concealed by long 

 tiresome tufts of shrubberies, as though they were considered deformities, 

 and the shrubs in front as lumpish as though they had been clipped ! The 

 chief cause of that insipidity of" form which shrubs too frequently present 

 is owing, no doubt, to an improper disposition of them at first planting, and 

 to the want of proper under-growths. 



It appears to me that, in the first planting of trees and shrubs, nearly all 

 the ornamental kinds, and those which possess peculiar character, should 

 , be kept just behind the foremost rank in an ever-varying outline, and that 

 the front rank should be principally composed of evergreens, which should 

 be allowed to spread, and become as irregular as possible on the grass. 

 Immediately behind these would also be a good situation for the beautiful 

 tree roses, instead of sticking them about singly on grass, where, as Mr. 

 Spence justly observes, " they look just like a May-pole," and have a poor 

 and desolate appearance. When their stems are supported by under- 

 growths, they have, on the contrary, a gay and at all times a comfortable 

 look ; and, by towering here and there among the other ornamental trees, 

 &c, do away with the squat aspect of the mere shrubs, and give a grace to 

 the whole. To plant shrubberies which should possess charms all the year, 

 I think that there should be two evergreens for one deciduous shrub ; and 

 all roses, azaleas, honeysuckles, and other scented or handsome deciduous 



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