1038 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



Part III. 



in red the outlines tliat will be made by the improvements adapted to the different situ- 

 ations. In addition to these, he will show the effect, by geometrical sections taken in 

 different directions across the grounds {Jig. 349. )j to show the ground's surface. His 

 next operation is to make a vertical profile {Jigs. 353, 354.}, showing the effect of 

 the whole, supposing the alterations to be fifteen or twenty years completed, with cor- 

 responding, panoramic, or general views {Jg. 355.), and with particular landscapes. 



7365. It remains for him to give reasons in ivriting for all that he proposes; a practice 

 which no employer or artist should ever omit to have done, as such opinions remain as 

 data, to be referred to concerning the management and future effects ; as well as in 

 point of present or future justification of the taste, both of the artist and proprietor. 

 This may be done in the following order: 1. Recapitulating the given instructions ; 



2. The characteristic features, and other details, of the given situation and vicinage ; 



3. A description of, with the reasons for, the general outline of improvement ; 4. The 

 description of, with the reasons for the detail ; 5. An outline of the future management j 

 6. Directions for the execution ; and, 7. An estimate of the expense. 



7366. In all these cliscussioiis proper references will be made to the maps and sketches. 

 Simple language will of course be emploj'ed in describing future effects ; but, above 

 all, simple sketches, wliich shall owe little of their effect to shading, and none to color- 

 ing, or finishing, are essentially necessary. 



7367. Girardhi seems to have been the first who suggested this mode of obtaining an opinion systematically; 

 and his remarks on the fallacious effect of beautiful drawings instead of outlines, are well deserving of atten- 

 tion. " Vous tachercz memc que cctte esquisse ne soit qu'un simple trait, et ne pr^sente d'abord que les 

 formes principales des objets, et la disposition gtnerale des grandes masses de votre ensemble. Un dessein 

 bien finie ne manquera pas de vous seduire par I'agrement de la touche d'un habile artiste ; vous vous 

 d^termineriez d'apres un dessein dont vous ne n^ussiriez peut-etre pas a obtenir I'eliet dans la nature, et 

 il faut bien mieux avoir a gagner qu'a perdre dans I'execution." 



7368. Repton has the merit of first employing this system elegantly and extensively in England, and 

 of adopting, instead of one entire landscape to show the previous taste, and another to show the effect of 

 the alterations, a slip of paper of the size and shape of those parts of the landscape which require alteration. 

 This is fixed at one edge of the entire landscape, and lies flat over part of it, so that when lifted up it 

 shows the full effect. It must be confessed, however, that, though an elegant mode, it is not perfectly 

 fair, since the view in which the cut paper forms a part can never look so well as the other, even from 

 the mere circumstance of the bounding line of the paper. For some cases, however, it may be used, 

 though in general it will be found, that two entire landscapes afford the most impartial means of judging 

 of the effects of an improvement. The discussion and sketches of the place, and improvements being 

 finished, and bound in a book, the ground or working plan is to be put on canvass, or copied on parch- 

 ment, for the common use of the gardener, or whoever sets out the work; and the profile put on rollers, 

 to be preserved along with the book of notitia. These being delivered to the proprietor, he will determine, 

 after mature deliberation, whether or not he will adopt the whole, or any part of the improvements, 

 previously consulting those friends whose taste or judgment he considers adequate to forming a judicious 

 opinion on the wliole, or any one part of the subject. " Lorsque I'esquisse de votre ensemble sera faite, 

 alors vous reflecherez, vous concerterez, vous discuterez avec des gens de goCit, I'ordonnance generale de 

 la disposition qu'elle vous pr^sente." In this example of forming a plan, we have had in view a dull and 

 nearly flat site, where nothing has been done ; but it is evident that the same general principles are ap- 

 plicable to such places as are to be altered, diminished, or enlarged. 



7369. By a general plan, accompanied by others more detailed, of the kitchen-garden, 

 pleasure-grounds, terrace, &c. and by the explanatory details of the book of notitia, any 

 gardener of ordinary intelligence may execute the most intricate design, and if this design 

 has been carefully formed from inspecting the premises, and proper general views have 

 been minutely taken from different points, the landscape-gardener may show the effect 

 of future improvements with confidence, and leave behind him the Notitia, or Book of 

 Improvements, or, in other words, such plans, sections, views, and -RTitten instructions, 

 as may enable the gardener gradually to produce them, with nearly as much certainty as 

 an architect directs a builder to raise an elevation of masonry. Distantly situated pro- 

 prietors, ambitious of displaying soine refinement of ideas on rural matters, might in this 

 way first procure, and then work to a general plan ; instead, as is often the case at pre- 

 sent, of working according to their own crude notions ; and producing scenes which 

 afford no pleasure to any one but their owner, and only to him whilst he remains in statu 

 quo as to taste. 



Sect. II. Of carrying a Plan into Execution. 



7370. Wiether a plan be carried into executioji by contractors, or by the proprietor at 

 his own risk, must depend on circumstances, both respecting the knowledge, taste, and 

 leisure of the proprietor, and the nature and extent of the improvements. Where an en- 

 tire new house and grounds are to be created, an eminent substantial contractor for the 

 buildings, and another for the ground operations, will be found the most speedy and 

 certain as to expense ; the work, in both cases, being liable to be regularly examined at 

 stated periods by a neutral surveyor, accompanied by the original designers of the im- 

 provements. If this mode is not adopted, the whole or greater part may be done under 

 the eye of the owner and his steward ; various, and as many parts as possible, being let 

 by the job. We shall take a cursoiy view of the chief objects of alteration or addition ; 

 and indicate some things in each, which may in most ca-ies be more profitably done by 

 the job, premising, that whenever the cost or intricacy of any piece of work is consider- 



