DRESS GROUND, 



67 



flowers, the arrangement of which I have 

 already noticed. This lawn falls in a varied 

 slope, till it is lost in the recesses of a woody 

 sk reen, which shelters it at once from the 

 northern blast and from the obtrusive gaze 

 of the approach ; while far below are seen 

 the remains of Medmenham Abbey, backed 

 by magnificent elms standing upon a winding 

 reach of the Thames, enlivened by the cir- 

 cumstances of a ferry boat, and other craft 

 passing up and down the river. A group of 

 horse chestnut, under the branches of which 

 the Abbey is seen, forms the foreground, and 

 finishes the picture. To those who are ac- 

 quainted with this beautiful, and, I may add, 

 unique spot, I need not name Danesfield. In 

 laying out the walks, care should be taken to 

 keep them as much as possible out of sight 

 of the windows, and also of each other ; as 

 seeing one walk from another gives an idea 

 of limitation. Where an occasional portion 

 of walk thus intrudes, it may be hid by raising 

 the turf ; but this should be effected by a 

 gentle slope. A terrace walk, even at the 

 shortest distance, will not offend, either from 

 the windows or the walk under them, as it is, 

 if I may so speak, a limitation of choice, not 



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