and of Ruyal Improvement ge7ier ally, during 1840. 623 



Some persons who do not understand the difference between 

 the effects of shapes on paper and shapes on ground, and be- 

 tween looking down on a lawn or flower-garden, and looking at 

 it sideways, will object to having nothing but circles, as wanting 

 in variety ; but, in practice, it is found that, by combinations of 

 circles of different sizes, more variety is produced than can be 

 effected by the use of any other form whatever, unless we except 

 small squares or small polygons, to which we have no objection 

 except that the angles are not so easily filled up with flowers 

 as circles. To show that combinations of circles are productive 

 of more variety than any other form, we may observe, first, 

 that the circles, being always seen from the side of the combina- 

 tion, change their apparent position with every change in the 

 position of the spectator ; and, secondly, that when the circles 

 are planted with flowers, one or more of which in every bed 

 rise to the height of 2 or 3 feet, the shape of the bed, whatever it 

 may be, can never be recognised by the spectator from a side 

 view. The size and the connexion, therefore, in this case, is of 

 much more importance than the shape. As well might combina- 

 tions of single trees be objected to in a park, as combinations 

 of small circular beds on a lawn ; for, as a single tree, in com- 

 bination with other single trees, is no longer a detached object, 

 but forms a part of the whole to which it belongs, so a single 

 circular bed, in combination with other circular beds, is no 

 longer to be considered as a circle, but as the element of a com- 

 bination which may form a varied and extensive figure, according 

 to the circumstances of the situation and the object in view. 



The only fear that we have^in recommending circles so strongly 

 is, least our doing so should revive the old system of clumping 

 in parks ; but we hope it will always be borne in mind that we 

 recommend no circles larger than 5 or 6 feet in diameter, and 

 none to be placed in such an isolated position as to be uncon- 

 nected with any thing else, and to attract attention as single 

 and detached objects. 



It is observed by George Cumberland, that " taste is a 

 slow-growing excellence, and that the proof of its advances 

 must arise out of facts. . . . The most likely mode to promote 

 it," he observes, " must also be to give proofs as to its having 

 taken a right direction somewhere, so as to draw attention to 

 that source, from which, the fountain being pure, useful chan- 

 nels may be opened, and wholesome examples adduced." [Bro7n~ 

 ley HiUi p. 5.) 



Now, in conformity with this precept, we shall refer to a few 

 places, all near London, where circles are used on the lawn, or 

 in the flower-garden, exactly in the manner which we have been 

 recommending. We may previously observe that circles were 

 chiefly used by Mason the poet, in laying out the flower-garden at 



