COMPOSITION OF THE LANDSCAPE. 



37 



country making up the middle-ground and tlie distance 

 respectively. In certain cases^ the whole scene is neces- 

 sarily confined to the pleasure-grounds and park, and in 

 others entirely to the pleasure-grounds ; but whatever be 

 the extent of view, on the proper arrangement and on 

 the blending of the different parts of the scene will 

 depend the success of the landscape gardener in the 

 operations committed to him. It is evident that with 

 such diversified materials and appliances a diversity of 

 treatment wiU be necessary. When the middle ground 

 and the extreme distance of extensive views are of a 

 varied and interesting character, it is seldom expedient 

 to introduce much ornament into the foreground ; but 

 if the middle-ground is tame and the distance unin- 

 ^dting, the interior should be made as ornamental as 

 possible ; and the same effect should be aimed at when 

 the middle distance is disfigured by disagreeable objects 

 which cannot be wholly excluded or concealed. "When 

 the whole scene is within the park, and still more when 

 it is wholly within the pleasure-grounds, it must receive 

 the more careful attention, and be so dealt with as to 

 produce the best effect that the character of the locality 

 will allow. When the views from the house are exten- 

 sive, it is not needful that a large extent of pleasure- 

 ground should be spread out before the windows. Such 

 breadth of dressed ground throws back the pasture-lands 

 of the park, and either conceals or renders indistinct 

 those groiips of living and moving objects with which 

 it is tenanted. Herds of deer or of cattle and flocks 

 of sheep impart much animation to the scene, which 

 should not be lost if it can possibly be preserved, much 

 less should it be artificially excluded. The pleasure- 

 grounds, as seen from the house, should be formed into 



