ON GENERAL APPEARANCES. 



85 



To catch soft hints from Nature''s tongue, 



And bid Arcadia bloom around ; 



Whether we fringe the sloping hill, 



Or smooth below the verdant mead — 



Whether we break the falling rill. 



Or through meandering mazes lead, 



Or in the horrid brambles' room, 



Bid careless groups of roses bloom — 



Or let some sheltered lake serene 



Reflect the groves and brighten all the scene," 



The decorative scenery which surrounds a country villa will ever 

 be esteemed in proportion to the effect which it produces upon the 

 spectator : but it is not sufficient that these objects, individually con- 

 sidered, are beautiful while partially or wholly displayed from the 

 walks ; there is an effect to be produced by those objects which come 

 into combination with the distance as seen from the windows : from 

 these points all that the eye embraces should unite in presenting one 

 harmonious picture. The foreground is rendered ornamental by art, 

 and as far as the Landscape Gardener can operate, the distance is 

 combined with the scene, and objectionable parts have been planted 

 out or obscured ; and art has also assisted in obtaining a just op- 

 position of tone, by robing the grounds to harmonize with the ad- 

 jacent scenery. Space does not always give the idea of grandeur ; a 

 more limited sphere is often better adapted to the display of orna- 

 ment and beauty. 



