Theory and Practice 141 



farmer deems useless ; but which, to the eye of taste, 

 produce effects of hght and shade. 



There is no mistake so common as that of filhng up 

 a recess in a venerable wood with a miserable patch of 

 young plantation. The outhne of a wood can never be 

 too boldly indented or too irregular ; to make it other- 

 wise, by cutting off the projections or filling up the hol- 

 lows, shews a want of taste, and is as incongruous as it 

 would be to smooth the furrowed bark of an aged oak. 



In a park the fences cannot be too few, the trees too 

 majestic, or the views too unconfined. In a farm small 

 enclosures are often necessary ; the mutilated pollard or 

 the yielding willow, in the farmer's eye, are often pre- 

 ferable to the lofty elm or spreading oak, whilst a full 

 crop of grain or a copious swath of clover is a more 

 gladdening prospect than all the splendid scenery of 

 wood and lawn from the windows of a palace. Small 

 detached farms, adapted to useful and laborious life, un- 

 mixed with the splendours of opulence, but supporters 

 of national wealth, are indeed objects of interest in every 

 point of view; they want not the adventitious aid of 

 picturesque effect to attract peculiar notice; to a bene- 

 volent mind they are more than objects of beauty : they 

 are blessings to society; nor is it incompatible with 

 the pursuit of pleasure sometimes to leave the bound- 

 aries of the park, and watch the exertions of laudable 

 industry or visit the cottages 



" Where cheerful tenants bless their yearly toil." 



The monopolist only can contemplate with delight 

 his hundred acres of wheat in a single enclosure ; such 

 expanded avarice may enrich the man, but will impov- 

 erish and distress and (I had almost added) will ulti- 

 mately starve mankind. 



