So/cell's Landscape-Gardening. 169 



deception does not always succeed ; the deceit is but too soon 

 discovered, even if these sudden windings, which must, besides, 

 be often repeated, do not present obstacles. 



Among such repeated turns, and to dissipate the suspicion 

 that they might awaken, the spectator must be surprised, now 

 by a beautiful inscription, a murmuring fountain, which will 

 recal Vaucluse and the complaints to Laura; and now by an 

 urn, a bust, &c. ; and thus his mind be occupied with more 

 elevated subjects than the course of the walks. 



A neighbouring path should never be perceived from any 

 walk, because this would destroy the illusion of size. The 

 plantations, therefore, which separate these near walks, must be 

 close and impervious. At the narrowest spots these plantations 

 should be at least from 15 to 20 or 30 feet wide. In large 

 extensive grounds, however, where no deception to increase the 

 apparent size is necessary, sometimes, from one walk, others may 

 be seen through transparent plantations ; and, from the moment- 

 ary appearance and disappearance of the passers by, animated 

 and lively pictures may be produced. 



A walk winding in a gentle slanting curve up a steep bare 

 hill, on the other side of which a beautiful landscape, half-con- 

 cealed, is by degrees revealed to view, has a particularly pictu- 

 resque and beautiful effect. To display this sort of beauty, 

 however, the walk should only have a single long shallow curve, 

 which would also render the ascent easier. For the same reason, 

 those walks which are to be carried over very steep hills can 

 only be properly executed when they are cut first from the 

 right to the left, and then from the left to the right (zigzag), 

 and thus their extent increased. In cases, however, where the 

 zigzag line cannot be sufficiently extended, or cannot be applied, 

 in order to facilitate the ascent, steps, either of stone or of oak, 

 must supply its place. These steps should not be more than 

 5 in. high, and not more nor less than 2 ft. apart, to be ascended 

 conveniently. 



When two walks are to be united, it should never take place 

 at a right or obtuse angle, but rather at an acute angle, by 

 which the lines of both walks will be united in a much more 

 beautiful manner. 



5, The marking out of all these lines and forms, if they are 

 to approach their original pattern, nature, is, as we have already 

 said, a matter as important as it is difficult. It is easily under- 

 stood, therefore, that he who undertakes to lay out a garden in 

 the natural style ought to be a good draughtsman in geometri- 

 cal plans as well as in landscapes. But there is a great difference 

 between expressing these forms in miniature on paper, and 

 marking them out in their natural size in nature. If the cleverest 

 landscape-painter were to draw such large lines, which often 



