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HAZARD OF PREPARATORY OPERATIONS. 299 



also swept away trees which it would take a century 

 to replace. It was with deep sympathy that we sur- 

 veyed the scene of desolation, mingled with regret, 

 that for the preservation of many elements of beauty 

 which had, without doubt, existed, we had arrived 

 nine months too late. 



Note. — In whatever relates to the subject of this 

 chapter, a natural taste, matured by cultivation, and 

 years of observation, is necessary in anj^ one propos- 

 ing to practice upon it. Neither the cultivation nor 

 the observation required for the. maturity of a proper 

 taste in the laying-out. and construction of parks, or 

 other grounds, is to be acquired from books alone. 

 Nature itself, in all her moods and circumstances, 

 should be closely studied. Among the professional 

 "arts," that of "Landscape-gardening" should be the 

 least artistic in its operations. It has to deal with 

 nature alone, and is, in its true sense, but nature- di- 

 vested of its prurient excesses, and modified into sim- 

 plicity and beauty. Art, of itself, in the disposi- 

 tion of woods and waters, is poor, compared with 

 nature, in clothing the earth with trees, and lighting 

 it up with waters. The cultivation of the earth is 

 art, so far as digging its surface, deposit of seeds, or 

 setting of plants, are concerned ; but in all that suc- 

 ceeds, nature is the only operator. Nature may be 

 guided and directed, but all the interference of art can 

 add no beauty to shape or effect. The surfaces of 

 ground may be modified ; abrupt points, or banks, 

 may be softened ; streams of water may be changed 

 in their courses, and by their presence add new beau- 

 ties to a. chosen spot ; but no territory thrown into fan- 

 ciful designs will produce an effect otherwise than 



