30 



or drive* after a sheep track or a cart rut § 

 though very useful hints may be taken 

 from them both ; and without having water- 

 docks or thistles before one's door, their 

 effect in a painter's fore-ground may be 

 produced by plants that are considered as 

 ornamental. I am equally persuaded that 

 a dressed appearance might be given to one 

 of these lanes, without destroying its pe- 

 culiar and characteristic beauties. 



I have said little of the superior variety 

 and effect of light and shade in scenes of 

 this kind, as they of course must follow 

 variety of forms and of masses, and intri- 

 cacy of disposition: I wished to avoid all 

 detail that did not appear to me necessary 

 to explain or illustrate some general prin- 

 ciples; but when general principles are put 

 crudely without examples, they not only 

 are dry, but obscure, and make no im- 

 pression. 



There are several ways in which a spot 

 of this kind near a gentleman's place, 

 would probably be improved; for even in 

 the monotony of what is called improve- 



