20 



LANDSCAPE GARDENING, 



CHAP. II. 



THE APPROACH. 



Next to the situation and character of the 

 house, the approach to it is to be considered. 



I have frequently thought that an undue 

 stress is laid upon the approach, as connected 

 with the general scenery of the place. We 

 often meet with it studiously carried through 

 some of the finest points of view, and thus 

 forestalling what ought to have been reserved 

 for the windows or the pleasure ground. The 

 approach to the Priory at Stanmore is an 

 illustration of my feeling upon this subject. 

 There is no doubt that the beauty of that ap- 

 proach, simply considered, would be improved 

 by the removal of a screen of high trees, 

 which excludes the distant country. But the 

 screen, notwithstanding any suggestions to 

 the contrary, is, with great judgment, re- 

 tained, as a premature disclosure would most 

 materially injure the effect of the magnificent 

 display of scenery that bursts upon you from 

 the drawing-room windows. 



