58 



LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



upon the shape, character, and extent of the 

 grounds they are to embellish : some hints, 

 however, as in other cases, may be suggested, 

 to direct the unskilful hand in an operation 

 of no small importance. 



And first, as before observed, the plant- 

 ations should be marked out from the prin- 

 cipal point of view, so as to agree with the 

 general scene. The size of each mass will 

 depend partly upon what is to be excluded 

 or broken in the remote landscape, and partly 

 upon the character and size of the ground. 

 If the situation to be planted be of small 

 dimensions, one mass of tolerable size may be 

 better than dividing it: but, if the ground 

 admit of it, a variety of masses is preferable, 

 as producing more intricacy and greater ap- 

 pearance of extent. In this case* the masses 

 of shrubs will be so disposed as to show por- 

 tions of lawn intersecting them in glades of 

 different size and form. The general in- 

 clination of these masses of shrubs should 

 tend, though in different degrees, towards 

 the most interesting part of the scene, either 

 within or without the dress ground, as cir- 

 cumstances may be. A horizontal line of 

 plantation can rarely have a good effect. 



