PART I. A COUNTRY RESIDENCE. 621 



ment. The methods of taking the levels of irregular ground, 

 so as to calculate with certainty upon the removal of earth in 

 the formation of terraces, gardens, or roads, is equally simple ; 

 and may either be performed by a mason's plummet and 

 straight edged mason's rule, or by a small pocket spirit level. 

 The method of proving the effect of buildings by skeletons of 

 boards — of trees by flag-posts— of water by linen extended 

 upon the ground — of cutting avenues through woods by lanterns, 

 and many such things, are either sufficiently known, or are of use 

 only to the artist, and therefore do not require to be mentioned. 

 Modern improvers would do well to revise their geometrical 

 knowledge ; for now, that the formation of platforms and artifi- 

 cial mounts, &c. is grown out of fashion, the art of accurately 

 measuring and calculating upon the removal of earth is forgot- 

 ten or neglected, and disorder, absurdities, and much useless 

 expense, are too frequently the consequences. Were it not in- 

 vidious, I could refer to striking instances in different parts of 

 the country of England. 



After these hints I offer a few remarks on some general 

 operations of execution, which are brought in here with more 

 propriety than under any of the separate elementary branches 

 of the art of forming a residence. 



Ground may either be removed by manual labour alone, 



