Dermics Landscape-Gar dener. 151 



style of several subsequent landscape-gardeners, as Brown, Davis, Repton, 

 Eyton [? Aiton], was distinctively described. Numerous errors were detected, 

 and various improvements suggested. Adaptation of different classes of trees 

 and shrubs to the respective parts of pleasure-ground was then in part de- 

 tailed. The concluding topic was the design of the yew tree, as an invariable 

 appendage in ancient churchyards ; a topic frequently discussed, but never pre- 

 viously developed. It being an enquiry of somewhat interesting character, 

 probably its repetition for information of absentees from the last lecture [?] 

 may be permitted, although a twice-told tale can only be tolerated by special 

 indulgence. 



" If yews be planted in proximity to a mansion, for the sake of valuable 

 shelter from bleak winds, they should not assume a prominent position, but 

 should be interspersed with groups of Weymouth pine or bay, and be faced 

 with laurels of luxuriant growth. By such contrast, the gloom of their dingy 

 leaf [foliage] is relieved with vivid and glossy green ; or, if the contrast appear 

 too strong, it may be mellowed by blending Portugal laurel in [an] intermediate 

 position. In short, the recommendation cannot be too frequently reiterated, 

 to substitute [a] studied assortment of tints for tasteless indiscriminate admix- 

 ture. Let but the pictorial artist be permitted, or the amateur condescend, 

 to transfer his principles of taste, the one from his easel, the other from his 

 gallery, to occasional superintendence of English landscape-gardening, and 

 they [? he] would contribute to [the] production of a living vegetative picture, 

 constituting incalculable improvement in style, and commanding inevitable 

 commendation from the spectator of cultivated taste. Nay, pleasure-grounds 

 thus constructed would excite universal admiration, and impart universal gra- 

 tification. Pictoresque effect, copying and harmonising with natural scenery, 

 elicits pleasurable emotions, even in such as ' know not why, and care not 

 wherefore.' But, for accomplishment of such [an] important desideratum, 

 science must be suffered to acquire unlimited confidence, in exercise of 

 control ; while prejudice must cease to plead for senseless * custom, more 

 honoured in the breach than in the observance.' An individual proprietor, 

 or a public association, might rest assured of the anticipation of a result 

 decidedly warranting the experiment. 



" In resumption of the topic of evergreen trees, for formation of a fore- 

 ground, it may strongly be recommended, while collecting perennial foliage of 

 every species, to permit the beautiful ilex of each variety [? each variety of 

 ilex] to predominate. Single or combined, from elegance of shape, delicacy of 

 leaf, and duration of mantling, the ilex constitutes an embellishment almost 

 unparalleled, yet too frequently neglected. Of faster growth than the deci- 

 duous oak, it [here it would appear that our reverend author alludes to the 

 Quercus Cerris, and not to the Q. /Mex, as that is of slow growth as com- 

 pared with the common deciduous oak] attains expansion competent to [the] 

 gratification of the planter's eye, with not less certainty, in the ordinary cal- 

 culation of life's duration, than to please and profit posterity. It should, 

 then, on various accounts, abound in proximity to [? the proximity of] a de- 

 corated mansion, blended with masses of bay, backed by cypress, yew, and 

 pinaster, and faced with laurel, laurestinus, Portugal laurel, privet, phylirea 

 [phillyrea], arbutus, with other flowering or variegated shrubs. 



" In similar relative situation, but in prominent advance from trees and 

 unblossomed shrubs, flowering evergreens should invariably rank. Defying 

 * the icy fang and churlish chiding of the winter's wind,' the gay, cheering, 

 precocious laurestinus anticipates the lingering arrival of an English spring. 

 Tenacious of florage and permanently retentive of foliated decoration, it is 

 entitled to numerical predominance over every blossoming shrub. By season- 

 able intervention and flowering profusion, it compensates for temporary dimi- 

 nution of ornament, in other component ingredients of a shrubbery, thus 

 transferring to nipping winter's gloom the exhilarating semblance of summer's 

 embellishment. Productive of such interesting impression in pleasing the eye, 

 it certainly merits conspicuousness by prominent position. 



