Chapter VI 



Formal Gardening 



THERE is no part of my profession more difficult 

 and troublesome than the attempt to modernise, 

 in part only, those places which have been formerly 

 decorated by the line and square of geometric taste. 

 To explain this difficulty, I will briefly state the differ- 

 ence between the principles on which improvements are 

 now conducted and those which governed the style of 

 former periods. 



The perfection of landscape gardening consists in 

 the four following requisites : First, it must display the 

 natural beauties and hide the natural defects of every 

 situation. Secondly, it should give the appearance of 

 extent and freedom, by carefully disguising or hiding 

 the boundary. Thirdly, it must studiously conceal 

 every interference of art, however expensive, by which 

 the scenery is improved, making the whole appear the 

 production of nature only ; and, fourthly, all objects 

 of mere convenience or comfort, if incapable of being 

 made ornamental, or of becoming proper parts of the 

 general scenery, must be removed or concealed. Con- 

 venience and comfort, I confess, have occasionally 

 misled modern improvers into the absurdity of not 

 only banishing the appearance but the reality of all 

 comfort and convenience to a distance ; as I have 

 frequently found in the bad choice of a spot for the 

 kitchen-garden. 



Each of the four objects here enumerated is directly 



