PLANTING. 



133 



upon the circular system of planting : — " It 

 " must be remembered, that strongly marked, 

 " distinct, and regular curves, unbroken and 

 " undisguised, are hardly less unnatural and 

 " formal, though far less grand and simple, 

 " than straight lines ; and that, independently 

 " of monotony, the continual and indiscrimi- 

 " nate use of such curves has an appearance 

 " of affectation, and of studied grace, which 

 " always creates disgust."* And again; — "But 

 " the great distinguishing feature of modern 

 " improvement is the Clump — a name which, 

 " if the first letter were taken away, would 

 " most accuratelv describe its form and effect. 

 " Were it made the object of study how to 

 u invent something which, under the name 

 " of ornament, should deform whole districts, 

 " nothing could be contrived to answer that 

 " purpose like a clump. Natural groups 

 " being formed by trees of different ages and 

 " sizes, and at different distances from each 

 " other — often, too, by a mixture of those of 

 " the largest size with thorns, hollies, and 

 " others of inferior growth — are full of variety 

 " in their outlines : and from the same causes* 



* Price on the Picturesque, vol. i. p. 231» 



