94 



The Art of Landscape Gardening 



Most of the principal rooms having a north aspect, 

 the landscape requires peculiar management not gener- 

 ally understood. Lawn, wood, and water are always 

 seen to the greatest advantage with the sun behind 

 them, because the full glare of light between opposite 

 trees destroys the contrast of wood and lawn ; while 

 water never looks so brilliant and cheerful when reflect- 

 ing the northern as the southern sky. A view, there- 

 fore, to the north would be dull and uninteresting 

 without some artificial objects, such as boats or build- 

 ings, or distant corn-fields, to receive the opposite 

 beams of the sun. A sketch shewed the effect of tak- 

 ing down trees to admit the distant woods, and by 

 removing those on the island, and of course their 

 reflection, the water became more conspicuous ; in 

 addition, the proposed road of approach, with car- 

 riages occasionally passing near the banks of the lake, 

 will give animation to the view from the saloon. 



The views of West Wycombe, being taken from 

 the proposed approach, I shall here beg leave to make 

 a short digression, explaining my reasons for that line, 

 founded on some general principles respecting an ap- 

 proach, although it has no other reference to the water 

 than as It justifies its course in passing the house to 

 arrive at its object. 



If the display of magnificent or of picturesque 

 scenery in a park be made without ostentation, it can 

 be no more at variance with good taste than the display 

 of superior affluence in the houses, the equipage, the 

 furniture, or the habiliments of wealthy individuals. 

 It will, therefore, I trust, sufficiently justify the line of 

 approach here proposed, to say that it passes through 

 the most interesting parts of the grounds, and will dis- 

 play the scenery of the place to the greatest advantage. 



