210 Sckell's Landscape-Gardening. 



But either method depends more or less on the particular cha- 

 racter of the situation and soii. 



11. When an apparently or really flat surface occurs in grounds, 

 this insipid lifeless form may be made to approach nearer to the 

 picturesque by raising gentle eminences without either making 

 actual valleys or hills, which will communicate life and grace to 

 these dull flats. By these improvements and additions they will 

 even acquire a degree of beauty, and be considered as an orna- 

 ment to the grounds. Elevations of this description, when they 

 are only raised 1 , 2, or 3 feet, are often sufficient to break a mo- 

 notonous flat, and to communicate to it that variety which confers 

 so much grace and pleasure. 



12. Besides these new forms created by art, the old ones 

 must either be made use of, transformed or improved when ne- 

 cessary, and then applied as features, or be entirely removed : 

 for example, sloping banks that have once been beautiful, but 

 which have been transformed into unsightly, steep, and even 

 dangerous precipices, by land-slips, inundations, &c, and which, 

 besides, cannot be introduced into any picturesque whole. To 

 these appearances of violent destruction, art, as has already been 

 said, must restore their former beautiful original features ; she 

 must rearrange those scattered dissevered forms aesthetically, 

 harmoniously, and picturesquely and with them enrich and 

 beautify her new creation. 



There are cases in which a fine prospect, or a waterfall, is 

 concealed by a ridge or bank. This ridge must therefore be 

 lowered, or entirely removed, if its value as a picturesque object 

 is inferior to that which it conceals from view. In the same 

 manner hills formed by nature, when they are too low and with- 

 out effect, may be raised, and stronger features communicated to 

 them. 



13. Marshes should never appear in pleasure-grounds: a 

 brook, made by art to meander through them, will carry off" the 

 water, and at the same time supply earth to fill up the deep 

 places, and make the marsh disappear. The want of earth has 

 frequently occasioned me to make lakes, ponds, or valleys; I 

 laid them out, however, where I thought the situation required 

 them, and when they formed a picturesque feature, and made 

 use of the earth for plantations, in raising hills, or in making wet 

 sterile spots fruitful. 



By either method, the beauty of the landscape was not only 

 increased, but also the growth and healthy appearance of the 

 plants, and the air very much improved. 



(To be continued.) 



