100 Sckell's Landscape- Gardening. 



rising and setting appears larger, because it can be compared 

 with the smaller terrestrial objects. 



e. Every object which approaches the nearest to the spectator's 

 point of sight increases in size, distinctness, and high colouring, 

 while those which are farther from him diminish in form and 

 colour. 



f. Trees of the same height also appear in different pro- 

 portions according as they are near or distant from the point of 

 sight, &c. 



Similar deceptions are innumerable, and when such circum- 

 stances present themselves, the landscape-gardener should take 

 advantage of them judiciously; but above all things he must 

 avoid having : — 



a. A small temple about 50 ft. high, with the pillars not more 

 than 2 ft. in diameter (but which is in the best proportion with 

 the limited-sized garden in which it stands), surrounded by 

 trees of 70 or 80 ft. in height, thus far surmounting the temple 

 itself in height. Such a temple would then appear still smaller 

 than it really is, which would be quite inexcusable. 



b. A moderately sized elevated spot of not more than 8 or 

 10 ft. in height, should not be planted with trees that will grow 

 seven or eight times higher, as such an elevation would by that 

 means be scarcely perceptible, whereas if it were covered with 

 low flowering shrubs, or even if it were quite bare, so that its 

 limited height could not be compared with anything on its 

 surface, it would appear much higher and have a more striking 

 character. 



c. Ha-has, which should have no perceptible boundary or 

 limit, ought to be assiduously adopted where the garden scenery 

 is wanting in extent. By this means the beauty of the external 

 landscape is united with the limited garden, and the delusion is 

 effected in the confined space. When the extent admits, the 

 paths should not pass too near the ha-has, as the deception 

 would then be discovered. The landscape-gardener should 

 carefully avoid planting very small gardens with very high trees 

 of the first class, as the gardens would thereby appear diminished 

 in size. 



Trees of a lower growth, which belong to the third and fourth 

 classes, and shrubs of the sixth and seventh classes, are more in 

 unison with so limited a space, and they also afford shade. 



The landscape-gardener should also avoid deception in 

 buildings, by making them appear at a distance what they are 

 not, but which on closer inspection are found to be impositions. 

 A temple consisting only of a facade, a representation of a 

 bridge over which you cannot pass, are imperfections and 

 falsities, the employment of which I cannot recommend, for in 



