40© 



heath, moss, or whatever it be, is made by the 

 action of water or frost, or by the tread of 

 animals, it is free from that sharp liny ap- 

 pearance which the spade always leaves. Such 

 edginess is scarcely less adverse to the beautiful 

 than to the picturesque : it is hard and cutting ; 

 it destroys all variety and play of outline, and 

 every kind of intricacy. Digging, therefore,, 

 with the edges it occasions, is a blemish, which 

 is endured at first, and with reason, for the 

 sake of luxuriant vegetation: and in some 

 cases, as where the plants are %ery small, or 

 where flowers are cultivated, must always be 

 continued ; but when the end is answered, why 

 continue the blemish ? No one, I believe,, 

 would think it right to dig a circle or an oval 

 and keep its edges pared, round a group of 

 kalmeas, azaleas, rhododendrons, &,c. that 

 grew luxuriantly in their own natural soil 

 and climate, in order to make the whole look 

 more beautiful. Why then continue to dig 

 round them, or any other foreign plants yi this 

 country, after they have begun to grow as 

 freely your own? Why not sufter them to 

 appear without the marks of culture, 



As glowing in their native bed ? 



P. 323,1-9. As Blenheim is the only place I have cri- 

 ticised by name, an apology is due to the 

 Hoble possessor of it, to whom, on many ac- 



