154 The Art of Landscape Gardening 



consisting of trees planted at the same time, becomes 

 little better than a mere hedge-row, and is deservedly- 

 rejected by every man of taste ; yet there are many 

 situations where a plantation becomes the natural bound- 

 ary of a park : such is the screen of wood on the high- 

 est ground to the east of Attingham, where it forms a 

 pleasing outline to the landscape, without exciting a wish 

 to know whether it is the termination of the property. 



In consequence of the apparent want of extent in the 

 park or lawn at Attingham, it was suggested to add 

 many hundred acres of land to the east, by removing 

 the hedges of the adjoining fields. This would have 

 increased the real without extending the apparent mag- 

 nitude of the park : but I contend that oftentimes it 

 is the appearance and not the reality of extent which 

 is necessary to satisfy the mind ; for the size of the park 

 has little reference to that of the estate of the proprie- 

 tor. The land attached to a villa, near a city, may with 

 propriety be surrounded by pales, or a wall, for the 

 sake of privacy and seclusion, but it is absurd to enclose 

 more of a distant domain than is necessary for the 

 beauty of the place ; besides, if this park or lawn had 

 been extended a mile farther to the east, the confine- 

 ment to the south, which is in the front of the house, 

 would not have been done away, and, consequently, 

 to the traveller passing the road the apparent extent 

 would not have been increased ; and without some 

 striking or beautiful feature, extent alone is seldom 

 interesting. 



If large trees, river scenery, or bold inequality of 

 ground can be included by enlarging a park, they are 

 sufficient motives ; but views of distant mountains, 

 which may be seen as well from the highroad, are not 

 features that justify extensive lawn over a flat surface.'^ 



