Observations on Landscape-Gardening. 89 



fine in nature when executed ; and, on the contrary, that, in order to produce 

 anything worthy of admiration in execution, a union of forms must be made 

 which would appear, on paper, quite inconsistent.' 



" The second section treats of the size of parks. Amongst other things, the 

 author says that it is not necessary to make a park very extensive, in order to 

 produce a fine effect. He, however, states (at p. 23.) that, ' when a park can 

 be made very large without committing a sacrifice, it is very desirable to make 

 it so,' and that, ' its imposing magnitude renders permanent the all-subduing 

 charm which novelty creates.' 



" With respect to the English parks, which the author holds up as a model 

 of taste and agricultural improvement, we find the following observations : — 



" ' It appears to me that the beauty of most of the English parks is lessened 

 by attempting to make too much of them, that is, making them appear as large 

 as possible ; and that they thus soon become more tiresome and monotonous* 

 than any thing that ever came under my observation in such a beautifully cul- 

 tivated and open landscape scenery. Many of the English parks are, in fact, 

 nothing but very extensive meadows, sprinkled with picturesque groups of high 

 and low trees. Partly to enliven the landscape, and partly for use, the Eng- 

 lish generally having in their parks some tame animals, such as sheep and black 

 cattle, or horses. 



" • The first sight of such an extensive space is imposing, and almost always 

 presents a splendid picture j but the impression once received is incapable of 

 improvement, and soon becomes monotonous. 



" ' If you then examine the same more closely, many faults will be found. All 

 the trees are eaten up to a certain height by cattle ; and often in such a re- 

 gular manner as if they had been cut by hedge shears ; the forms of the trees 

 have, consequently, very little variety. The groups are never without some 

 kind of fence ; indeed, every young newly planted tree has a fence also, which 

 produces a very stiff and formal appearance 5 and the groups can seldom be 

 used to intercept the view sufficiently, to form out of the principal landscape 

 several smaller ones. Only one road leads, through this extensive desert, to 

 and from the house, which, without the trace of the hand of man, is situated 

 on a lawn in bare and cold majesty, the cows and sheep feeding close to the 

 flight of marble steps, which lead to the entrance door. It is not astonishing, if, in 

 such a monotonous and extensive place, an involuntary shudder should be felt ; 

 and it is a place where none but a .John Bull would live. The scene would 

 be much improved if a particular place were allotted for the cattle and deer, 

 instead of giving them the range of the whole park. It, however, seems a rooted 

 idea in England, that a landscape cannot be lively without cattle, though if en- 

 livened by man they consider it quite insupportable, and the gardens of a 

 private gentleman in England are generally hermetically sealed to every stran- 

 ger. They are quite unacquainted with the kindness of our nobility, and give, 

 as an excuse for their illiberality, the excessive rudeness of the common 

 people.' 



" The author continues, to the third section, to say a great deal on the 

 size of the English parks, and (at p. 28.) he speaks of their enclosures, and 

 says,— 



" * I have often heard it remarked, that there is nothing in landscape-gardening 

 more contrary to nature than the enclosures of parks, f 



"' I am of a contrary opinion, and agree with the Englishman, who carefully 



" * I do not mean to include in this censure either their pleasure-grounds 

 or gardens, which are full of variety, but only their parks," 



-f- The proper meaning of the German word for " park " {Thiergarten') is 

 an enclosed place or garden for wild beasts. The word " park " is, however, 

 now used in Germany for every extensive place laid out as pleasure-grounds. 



H 3 



