THE LAWS OF DEVELOPING LANDSCAPE 



613 



must never expose the boundaries. Central roads help to give pleasure 

 and convenience in developing property, but great care must be exercised 

 to avoid dividing the park into two halves, as is often seen in town parks. 



Grass Roads. 



Grass roads in shrubberies are often very charming, as these resorts 

 are very much used in fine weather, and the soft grass is delightful to the 

 tread of the feet. Of course these roads can seldom be made where any 

 object is required beyond mere sight of the beauties of the land pro- 

 duction, although in dry, rocky soils, slightly covered with a good foot of 

 soil, rough broken stones may be placed under the grass. Woodland 

 roads may often be rendered very charming. These roads are very useful 

 where they cross views, thus preventing the serious objections of cutting 

 up the harmony of a scene. 



Roads around Corners. 



Vegetation is frequently left in a mere lump when roads go around a 

 corner. This is not correct ; the corners should show their beauties to 

 the passer-by, quite as much as any other portion of the land, as they 

 certainly gain their full share of observation. 



Road Grouping. 



Roadside planting is a very praiseworthy object, as roads are a perpetual 

 foreground. All people attempt to plant their private roadsides more or 

 less, but unfortunately they seldom display any natural knowledge. This 

 planting should always be subservient to the scenes that belong to each 

 view. Single plants, be they trees or small plants, should apparently be 

 a part of the promontories of the scene, belonging to the prospects. 

 Flowering plants in more or less quantity suitable to the character of 

 the scenes should ever be abundant. 



When the roads are going with the scenery, the plants and grouping 

 on their sides can be arranged somewhat with the road. But by no 

 means must these single plants or groups be placed at right angles (as 

 we see them in every country), as if our eyes were in our ears. 



The grouping of silent life upon the sides of the roads gives oppor- 

 tunities to show the details of the more lovely forms and colours of plant 

 life ; and these, arranged with the scenery, will carry the observation to 

 the scenery beyond. Roadside grouping should spring naturally from the 

 road with the scenery. 



Shades and Lights, or Succession of Character. 



Roads are a series of foreground to the scenery ; and while they should 

 not be covered with trees, they should have plenty of shade, and also 

 plenty of light ; for when we have received impressions of shade our senses 

 require impressions of light, and vice versa. 



Whenever a great scene opens in the prospect, the observation site 

 should be well shaded with large umbrageous trees or otherwise, as we 



