SECTION I. 



377 



country gentleman, who, having no practical skill himself, is yet desirous 

 to improve real landscape, M^here it already exists, or to create it where 

 it is wanting. 



As a proof that the professors of landscape gardening do not obstin- 

 ately cling to antiquated errors, Mr Ponte}'', (who has usefully written 

 on the planting and pruning of trees,) a disciple and admirer of Brown, 

 published in 1825 a meritorious work on " the Laying-out of Grounds," 

 though with an odd title, namely, " The Rural Improver." The book, 

 though not well written, contains excellent matter ; it shows much 

 practical skill, and should have a place in the library of every country 

 gentleman. It is certain that considerable knowledge of the principles 

 of landscape, however obtained, and some skill in the practice of creating 

 it, are indispensable to every one who would transplant with advantage. 

 This is a subject well deserving of discussion ; but it would require far 

 more than could be comprised within the short compass of a note. 



Note V. Page 8. 



With respect to the immediate effect of wood in town embellishments, 

 it would prove particularly valuable for the squares, and other open 

 grounds of a great city. Edinburgh, one of the most extraordinary 

 places in Europe, whether for its picturesque situation or the sudden 

 erection of its finest streets and squares, lately lost an opportunity of 

 obtaining wood in this way, which is not likely soon to occur again. 

 The Royal Circus, Moray Place, Heriot Row, and other places and 

 squares, having spacious open grounds attached to them, were built in 

 the immediate vicinity of what was once the delightful villa and grounds 

 of the Earl of Moray, on the water of Leith ; and indeed, nearly the 

 whole of them have grown out of the destruction of that elegant little 

 park. Its woods had been admirably kept, and, what is more, judicious- 

 ly thinned out by the taste of the late and the present Lord Moray, and 

 would have afforded subjects in sufficient number, of nearly five-and- 

 forty years' growth, and also in the very best rooting-ground, to wood 

 the one -half of the metropolis. It is to be lamented that there was no 

 science at hand to have achieved this striking improvement, as it would 

 have done more to establish the power of the art in the public opinion, 

 than twenty volumes like the present ; and, moreover, it would have 

 anticipated at leSiBi thirty i/ears in the picturesque appearance of the city. 



I do not mean of course to say, that this should have been all done 

 with fine large grove-wood or standard trees. No man of good taste, I 

 think, will so understand it. But the miserable single trees and detached 

 groups that now appear upon the open parts of the grounds in question, 



