548 SckeWs Landscape-Gardening. 



then the art of gardening triumphs, having not only made 

 a faithful imitation of nature, but (although, it is true, with the 

 help of her own treasures from other parts of the world) en- 

 riched and beautified, and even transformed, the whole into a 

 garden itself. 



5. On similar outlines made by the tracing-staff, whether for 

 the form of the wood or groups, stakes should be fixed 20 ft., 

 30 ft., and 50 ft. apart. "When this is done, the line made by 

 the tracing-staff must be carefully effaced, and it ought not to be 

 touched again either with the hoe or in any other way, as 

 is usually the case*, with the intention of producing openings in 

 the outskirts of the plantation. Nature exhibits no such sharp 

 and manifest lines in the contour of the forest, but rather a 

 continuation of forms and objects that present no decided line 

 or figure. 



6. If so decided a line were effected even by the most skilful 

 landscape-gardener, and trees regularly planted on it, it could 

 never be put in competition with the invisible line formed by 

 nature round the outskirts of the forest. The numerous retreat- 

 ing and projecting points which nature continually displays in 

 the great outline of the forest should be, in a great measure, 

 left to chance, and effected in the following manner. 



7. The workmen are distributed among the stakes, which 

 (after the line made by the tracing-staff has been effaced) only 

 serve to show the grand and principal characteristic features ; 

 and it is by these that the first gaps in the outline of the forest 

 should be formed among the trees, so as to appear as if they 

 had occurred by chance ; and in this way all the small projecting 

 and retreating points of the natural forest are the best imitated. 

 In places, however, where by accident a straight line has been 

 formed, or where the outline does not assume an aesthetic cha- 

 racter, the defect can be remedied by forming new openings, 

 and by effacing others which are already made. 



8. It may be seen further from this, that the forest should 

 never be surrounded by a soft wavy-formed outline. In nature, 

 as has already been stated, it presents a very different character. 

 It consists of many bold, obtuse, sharp, deep, and gently 

 receding and projecting irregularities ; and it is only by such 



* It must here, however, be remembered, that, in digging round bushes or 

 groups (which is unavoidable during the first few years, in order to destroy 

 weeds and promote the growth of the trees), ugly stiff outUnes, which are 

 quite intolerable, are frequently formed by the workmen, and by the sharp 

 and abrupt manner of cutting the turf round the groups and plantations. 

 The turf, on the contrary, instead of being trimly cut, should lose itself unseen 

 among the bushes ; and neither plantations nor groups should have the turf in 

 defined forms round them, unless you wish to act contrary to the law of 

 nature. 



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