Retrospective Criticism. 487 



pleasure of seeing a magnificent tree fully relieved on a sea of pasture, for 

 the sake of closely adhering to some fancied rule of nature, though Imi<dit 

 and should observe your advice by not placing it in the centre of the ocean. 

 Before entering upon another subject, I cannot forbear to mention how 

 very injudiciously the pruning-hook is made use of in ornamental plant- 

 ations. By improper pruning they are made to appear more like groves 

 of poles than masses of wood ; and thus you may see though them, and 

 into the clear daylight beyond, discovering, at the same time, the narrow- 

 ness of their limits, which ought always, if possible, to be jealously con- 

 cealed. Such poor substitutes for trees look miserably on a flat surface ; 

 and why their owners should be at such pains to mar nature I cannot 

 conceive, since I am of opinion that perfection in plantations so situated con- 

 sists in presenting to the spectator a mass of foliage, receding in gradation, 

 with but partial variation, from a twenty feet tree to the loftiest of the 

 forest. Shrubs and flowers ought not invariably to recede from the point 

 of view in regular gradation of height, but should have, here and there, one 

 elevated above its neighbours, differing both in colour and kind ; and I ap- 

 prehend it would be found practicable to arrange herbaceous plants, so that 

 the decaying stalks of those gone out of flower might be concealed from 

 view by those coming, or yet to come, into flower. This plan might be 

 very successfully adopted towards pseonies, and many bulbous plants ; and 

 I would strongly recommend the practice to such as are in the habit of 

 cropping their crocuses, or other bulbous plants immediately after flower- 

 ing, without considering that leaves are as necessary for the preservation 

 of a plant, as lungs are to the existence of a man. A flower-bed on a 

 lawn, if studded with a variety of plants, should always have something 

 throughout the flowering season, to which the eye will naturally revert, 

 and not be so confusedly planted as to leave no impression either of indi- 

 vidual beauty or harmonious assemblage. In aid of this, little bays or re- 

 cesses, formed by the taller-growing plants, might be furnished with those 

 of the procumbent or dwarf species, which would flower at a season dif- 

 ferent from that of the higher ; for, if both were in flower at the same time, 

 the dwarf species might very probably be overlooked, or suffer materially 

 by comparison. 



But, whatever plan be followed, let it be formed on the principle of 

 plants rendering mutual assistance in exciting admiration ; let each add to 

 its neighbour's beauty, and not attempt a rivalship. I am partial, however, 

 to the recess system, and would introduce into shrubberies, here and there, 

 a little glade of dazzling splendour, to be approached through an interval 

 of gloom. What admiration one of these would excite in early spring, if 

 profusely gilded with crocuses, and surrounded with beautiful evergreens ! 

 Such a scene, when all around was bleak and comfortless, would make the 

 heart leap up, and the eye moisten with joy ; if that eye and heart belonged 

 to one who prized flowers, and had a soul capable of appreciating the 

 charms of nature. 



In laying out a shrubbery, its effect in winter ought always carefully to 

 be kept in mind ; and it would be well, therefore, that evergreens should 

 have the first preference of place ; that such deciduous shrubs as are beau- 

 tiful in spray or bud should have the next ; and that these two should be 

 placed in close neighbourhood, by one who has a painter's eye. I have 

 already alluded to having early flowers beside evergreens, and would re- 

 commend such a disposition, not only on account of the additional beauty 

 which each gives to the other, but for the sake of surprising and cheating 

 the beholder into the idea of a more advanced season of the year. In 

 shady situations, the crocus and the snowdrop might be greatly relieved by 

 being planted in a bed of fleecy moss, which, besides being beautiful in it- 

 self, would have the advantage over grass of neither requiring the scythe, 

 nor robbing the bulbs and shrubs of nourishment. There are two or three 



