Earthworks and Esplanades 103 



young oaks may be buried up to one third of 

 their height without suffering in the least. 



Although in general a certain undulation of 

 the terrain is advisable, at times an excellent 

 effect is brought about by making the bottom 

 of little valleys, having steep surroundings, quite 

 level. We often find such formations in Nature 

 which charm us by the contrast. 



On meadows, as a rule, here and there the 

 little ups and downs must be leveled, for practi- 

 cal reasons as well as appearance, but larger un- 

 dulations of the terrain should in no case be 

 unnecessarily disturbed. But if, nevertheless, it 

 is desirable for other reasons to remove and level 

 any considerable height, and any fine trees hap- 

 pen to be standing there which should not be 

 removed, then I advise leaving them standing 

 on single small hillocks [tertres) which give the 

 meadow still more variety, for which reason I 

 have often deliberately planted in this way and 

 with good results. In this connection I will add 

 a remark that would have been more in place 

 in a former chapter. If it is desired to select the 

 best point of view from which-to see an unusu- 

 ally fine tree or group of trees, this must -be 

 sought, not at the foot of the group, but from a 

 point about half its height, if possible from a 

 steep slope, and at a distance double its height. 

 It will then appear twice as imposing as if seen 

 from the foot, where one must look up to it. 



In all soil removals, where no gravel plots, 

 roads, or houses are intended, the humus or top 



