56 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



mended may be brouglit into operation in any part of 

 the pleasure-grounds — we may point to the striking 

 effect produced by certain exotic trees^ when near the 

 eye of an intelligent observer. At a distance,, and 

 viewed in a line perpendicular to its direction, a mass 

 of beeches may not seem to differ much from other 

 deciduous trees ; but the result is otherwise when the 

 eye is sufficiently close to the objects to discern their 

 kinds, or when their peculiar forms stand out in strong 

 relief. On this principle the conspicuous, or what may 

 be called the staring trees, should be mostly of the rarer 

 species, and of the more uncommon forms. Probably 

 some of our readers may remember the use which 

 Martin, the painter, makes of the cedar of Lebanon in 

 his Illustrations of Paradise Lost. In the same way 

 attention may be directed to the tulip-tree, the weeping 

 birch, the purple beech, the deodar cedar, the araucaria, 

 and many others which will readily suggest themselves 

 to amateurs in arlioriculture. Of course, it is not in- 

 tended that such stunted curiosities as may be necessary 

 in botanic gardens should be thrust forward into un- 

 deserved notice : but where rarity of occurrence or 

 quaintness of structure is coml)ined with beauty or 

 vigour of growth, these qualities should always be taken 

 advantage of. The reader will find this subject pursued 

 at greater length in a subsequent chapter. 



Walks in the Pleasure-Grounds. — Certain leading 

 walks are required in the grounds attached to a country 

 residence. One or more passing from the mansion- 

 house through the pleasure-grounds wiU be found 

 necessary. Another proceeding from the drawing-room 

 front, or x^rincipal terrace, may direct its course to the 

 flower-garden, the kitchen-garden, or other objects of 



