Parks and Gardens 43 



as ornamental as the means permit. Let the lawns 

 appear as a velvet carpet embroidered w^ith flow- 

 ers ; gather together the rarest and the most 

 beautiful exotic plants, curious animals, multi- 

 colored birds ' (provided that Nature or art will 

 enable them to thrive) ; polished benches, re- 

 freshing fountains, the cool shades of dense ave- 

 nues, order and fancy; in short, everything in 

 turn to evoke the richest and most varied effects, 

 just as one furnishes every salon in the interior 

 of a house in a different style. Thus, one may 

 continue the suite of rooms on a greater scale 

 under the open sky, whose blue vault, with ever- 

 renewed cloud canopy, takes the place of the 

 painted ceiling, and in which sun and moon are 

 the perpetual illumination. To draw up rules for 

 such details is more in the province of the dec- 

 orative gardener, still more of the individual 

 taste of the master, and perhaps most of all should 

 be left to the delicate taste and delightful fancy 

 of womeii. Hence, as regards this point I shall 

 only make some general remarks. 



It is essential that the confines of each garden, 

 in which I always include the " pleasure-ground," 

 for the sake of security should have an enclosure 

 which separates it from the park. 



If the locality allows of a high terrace, or a 

 continuous ha-ha, this would, in most cases, be 



' But there must be no superfluity, nor any trace of dirt or odors, 

 and if this cannot be so managed, then the menagerie should be re- 

 moved; for curiosities which can be admired only with the handker- 

 chief at the nose are undesirable in a place which should be devoted 

 only to the comfortable enjoyment of beauty. 



