DIRECTION OF THE APPROACH. 



21 



tion of tlie approach wliicli render professional advice 

 desirable, and applies for it when it is too late, or when 

 all that the utmost ingenuity can eifect is a decidedly 

 inferior line of approach. To avoid these errors the 

 garden artist should be consulted almost as soon as the 

 architect, or, indeed, at the same time. We have no 

 intention of disparaging the professional position of the 

 architect, which, in relation to the house, must be 

 admitted to be primary and aU-important ; but as con- 

 nected with the house, he has generally some ideas 

 respecting the approach which we must be allowed to 

 say should be received with caution. He naturally 

 would make the approach the means of showing off his 

 own work, sometimes not judiciously even in reference 

 to that object, and very often at the cost of sacrificing 

 all the rest of the grounds. We cannot wonder that he 

 should overlook that of which he has seldom any con- 

 ception ; but it is to be regretted that on that account 

 a fine place should be deteriorated. Gentlemen who do 

 not need professional assistance should make themselves 

 sure that the requirements of the approach are brought 

 in some degree into harmony with those of the mansion- 

 house and the grounds, before the building operations 

 are commenced. 



Direction of the Approach. — The position and 

 direction of the principal approach, in respect to the 

 smTounding country, are subjects which require mature 

 consideration. When the nature of the ground and 

 other circumstances permit, it should lead towards the 

 house from that side of the park on which the nearest 

 city or town of the district is situated, this being the 

 direction in which the greatest number of visitors may 

 be expected to arrive, and in which the social relations 



