Theory and Practice 137 



the ancient magnificence destroyed is the more cheerful 

 landscape of modern park scenery ; and although its 

 boundary ought in no case to be conspicuous, yet its 

 actual dimensions should bear some proportion to the 

 command of property by which the mansion is sup- 

 ported. If the yeoman destroys his farm by making 

 what is called a Ferme ornee, he will absurdly sacrifice 

 his income to his pleasure, but the country gentleman 

 can only ornament his place by separating the features 

 of farm and park ; they are so totally incongruous as 

 not to admit of any union but at the expense either of 

 beauty or profit. The following comparative view will 

 tend to confirm this assertion. 



The chief beauty of a park consists in uniform verd- 

 ure; undulating lines contrasting with each other in 

 variety of forms ; trees so grouped as to produce light 

 and shade to display the varied surface of the ground ; 

 and an undivided range of pasture. The animals fed in 

 such a park appear free from confinement, at liberty to 

 collect their food from the rich herbage of the valley, 

 and to range uncontrolled to the drier soil of the hills. 



The farm, on the contrary, is forever changing the 

 colour of its surface in motley and discordant hues ; it 

 is subdivided by straight lines offences. The trees can 

 only be ranged in formal rows along the hedges ; and 

 these the farmer claims a right to cut, prune, and dis- 

 figure. Instead of cattle enlivening the scene by their 

 peaceful attitudes or sportive gambols, animals are 

 bending beneath the yoke or closely confined to fatten 

 within narrow enclosures, objects of profit, not of beauty 

 [Plate xiv]. 



This reasoning may be further exemplified by an 

 extract from the Red Book of Antony. The shape of 

 the ground at Antony is naturally beautiful, but at- 



