54 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



inferior line of approach. To avoid these errors tho 

 garden artist should be consulted almost as soon as the 

 architect, or indeed, at the same time. We have no 

 intention of disparaging the professional position of the 

 architect, which, in relation to the house, must be 

 admitted to be primary and all-important ; but as con- 

 nected with the house, he has generally some ideas 

 respecting the approach which we must be allowed to 

 say should be received with caution. He naturally 

 would make the approach tho means of showing on his 

 own work, sometimes not judiciously even in reference 

 to that object, and very often at the cost of sacrificing 

 all the rest of the grounds. "We cannot wonder that he 

 should overlook that of which he has seldom any con- 

 ception ; but it is to be regretted that, on that account, 

 a fine place should be deteriorated. Gentlemen who do 

 not need professional assistance should make themselves 

 sure that the requirements of the approach are brought 

 in some degree into harmony with those of the mansion- 

 house and the grounds, before the building operations 

 are commenced. 



Note. — To bring all the features of the park into 

 harmony, one with the other, after the ground which is 

 to compose it is decided on, the whole subject, in all 

 its combination and arrangement, should be made a 

 study for months before the work of its cutting up and 

 formation is commenced. The topography of the ground 

 in all its peculiarities, should be perfectly familiar to 

 the planner of the park, and to the architect of tho 

 buildings, that each may harmonize with, the other. In 

 the struggle for supremacy in showing off his own art, 

 each in his own particular department, it would not be 

 strange if the landscape-gardener and the architect 



