FOREST CONSEEVATOEIES. 433 



except to keep them clear of impediments. Nature 

 would rear in these green wood-paths some of her love- 

 liest productions ; and the varieties of wild flowers that 

 would spring up within them would form one of the 

 principal minor attractions of the place. 



I would discard every description of ornamental gar- 

 dening from the conservatory, and I would admit no man 

 as a superintendent who had been indoctrinated with any 

 ideas of " aesthetics " as applied to the scenery of nature. 

 "Whenever it should become necessary to plant any- 

 thing to fill a vacant space, or to supply some absent 

 native species, it should be planted without any tasteful 

 design. If any kind of embellishment were admitted, 

 from that time the true object of the place would be for- 

 gotten. But I would not exclude the plough and other 

 implements of the farm. Some amount of rustic tillage 

 would be needful for the subsistence of the birds and ani- 

 mals which the place is designed to contain. But nothing 

 should be raised for merchandise, and nothing cultivated 

 for embellishment. This spot is to be nature's own sanc- 

 tuary; no gravelled walks should disfigure it, no taste- 

 ful edifices should spoil its native features, no picnic- 

 parties should desecrate it, no sportsmen should molest 

 its inhabitants. No artificial seats or arbors should be 

 provided for idlers or loungers. It should not be open to 

 large parties, nor shut against any weU-disposed indi- 

 viduals. 



It might be supposed that an establishment of this 

 character would need to be fenced, to protect it from the 

 intrusion of persons who would not obey its regulations. 

 A fence would not be necessary for this purpose. It 

 would be sufficient to plant trees on the outside of the 

 wood in such a manner as to render aU entrance with a 

 horse and carriage impossible. The most of the paths 

 should be only a few feet wide, to accommodate pedestrians ; 



19 "^ 



