IQG OF RURAL GARDENING. SECT. XI. 



Ornamental gardening depends much on the form of 

 the ground^ and therefore to fhape that is the firfl objeft. 

 Some fituations may not need it, and, perhaps, a little 

 alteration may produce a happy efFeft in others ; there- 

 fore great alterations mould not be attempted with- 

 out manifeft advantages, as either levelling, or railing 

 ground, is a heavier bunnefs than is commonly ftrp- 

 pofed, both as to time and expence. 



Too much -plane is to be guarded againft, and when 

 it abounds, the eye fhould be relieved, by clumps, or 

 fome other agreeable objeft. Hoi lews are not eafily 

 filled, and eminences, moftly are advantageous, in the 

 formation of piclurejque fcenes, in which the general 

 principle of ornamental gardening confifls. This idea 

 has been pre fled fo far, that it is contended, a gardener- 

 mould be a ftudier of landfcape paintings. But with- 

 out an immediate view to pictures, no doubt, grounds 

 may be laid out in a way fufficiently piclurefque. That 

 view may be very agreeable in Nature, which would 

 not be lb in a picture, and vice verja. 



Piclurejque gardening is effected by a number of 

 means, which a true rural genius, and the fludy of 

 examples only can produce. Thefe examples may be 

 piclures, but the better inftruftors will be fcenes in 

 Nature; and the proper grouping ot trees, according to 

 their mode of growth, fhades of green, and appearance 

 m autumn will effeft a great deal. 



To plant piclurefquely a knowledge of the character- 

 iftk differences of trees and Ihrubs, is evidently a prin- 

 cipal qualification. Some trees fpread their branches 

 wide, others grow fpiral, and fome conical; fome have 

 a clofe foliage, others an open one, and fome form re- 

 gular, others irregular heads, the branches and leaves of 

 which may grow erefl, level, or pendent. 



The mode of growth in trees, as quick or flow, the 

 time of leafing, and fhedding leaf, with the colour of 

 the bark, are all circuraftances of confideration in order 



to 



