MISCELLANEOUS. 



227 



composition by this accompaniment of foliage; 

 adapting the tree to its situation, both as to 

 size, colour, and character. 



As variety in colour, as well as in form, is 

 essential to picturesque effect, great caution 

 should be observed on that head of improve- 

 ment. Indeed, village architecture, almost 

 over the whole of England, is suffering as 

 much from the colour as it is from the form 

 of modern cottages. Wherever it is neces- 

 sary to rebuild a village, brick is nearly the 

 universal material ; and if its fiery tone should 

 be deemed offensive, a general whitewash is 

 the remedy. How jealous, then, should we be 

 to preserve such varieties as the old village 

 may afford. The rich varied tints of an 

 ancient house ought never to be interfered 

 with ; and should the walls of another be 

 unsightly smeared, it should be restored by a 

 sober wash, approaching to drab rather than 

 to white ; another might be of a grayer ten- 

 dency ; but pure white scarcely ever can have 

 a good effect. Sir Uvedale Price objects to 

 thatch, from its damp and dirty look when 

 passing into decay ; but I consider it, almost 

 under any circumstances, to be preferable to 

 tiles, or the cold blue slate generally used. 



q 2 



