THE PARK, 105 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE PARK. 



Definition — The Unity of the Park — Natural Character of the 

 Ground — Acquired Character of the Ground — Planting in the Park — 

 Surfaces to be Planted — Arrangement of Woods in the Park — a 

 Group — a Clump — a Mass — carrying out the Arrangement of 

 "Woods — Grouping of Plantations in the Park — Outlines of Planta- 

 tions — Belts and Circles — Artificial Style — Avenues. 



The Park. — Under the general name of Park we 

 include all those plantations and pasture-lands sur- 

 rounding a country residence and its dressed grounds, 

 which are in the immediate possession of the proprie- 

 tor, and are managed by his servants, or at most are 

 only let out from year to year for grazing. In the 

 vicinity of cities or large towns, and in thickly popu- 

 lated districts, the park is usually inclosed by a wall 

 or fence of sufficient height to exclude ordinary intru- 

 ders ; in more remote districts its boundary-fences diner 

 little from those common in the country, except that 

 they may be a little higher and more carefully kept.* 



*The park, chase, and forest are remnants of the territorial arrangements of feudal 

 times, and are, indeed, different forms of preserves for beasts of chase and other game. 

 The forest, often of vast extent and of diversified surface, was the exclusive prerogative 

 of royalty, and was invested with peculiar laws and privileges. The chase, a name 

 still occurring in some places in England, was a smaller portion of country, lying in 

 a state of nature, and uninclosed. The park was of more limited dimensions than 

 either of the former, and was surrounded by fences. In the conception of a park, 

 inclosure. is the dominant idea; and hence, in the Lowlands of Scotland, which were 

 inclosed within the memory of the last generation, a fenced field of any description 

 is, in popular usage, called &park. 



