122 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



In more limited localities, the principal grouped masses 

 will, of course, be fewer in number, or on a reduced 

 soale. When these have been marked out, the subor- 

 dinate masses, clumps and groups, are to be laid down 

 in proper coordination. Single trees should be scat- 

 tered irregularly here and there, in such a manner as 

 to harmonize with the larger masses, and to take off 

 the stiff and constrained appearance presented by the 

 outlines of the denser plantations. By this mode of 

 grouping, the grass lands will be thrown into masses 

 of greater breadth, and the surrounding woods and 

 groups of trees will exhibit entire scenes of themselves, 

 connected yet dissimilar, united yet diversified, by the 

 ever-varying interchange of glade and wood, of broad 

 grassy expanse and clump and group, or single trees, 

 and exhibiting at one time the deep shade and dense 

 color of the mass, and at another the lighter and airier 

 graces of individual forms. When a park is laid Out 

 on these principles, that is, with a properly arranged 

 gradation of combined masses and groups, and a bird's- 

 eye view of it is taken, it will present a highly-diver- 

 sified appearance ; and though there are few surfaces 

 on which the whole system of grouping can be made 

 visible at once, yet from so much of it as can be seen, 

 the successive pictures will be more numerous and 

 more pleasing than can be afforded by any chance- 

 medley system. The increase of variety and intricacy 

 in form and position, will invariably produce, in a cor- 

 responding degree, a diversity in the succession and 

 intensity of light and shade. In short, we have the 

 certain superiority of design, if that design is not ob- 

 trusively formal and artificial, over the imperfect, 

 irregular, occasionally interesting, but rarely occurring 



