6 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



have, however, seen it used, and, independently of the 

 price of the machine, very considerable expense iticiured, 

 where, but for inattention or ignorance in some quarter, 

 the much more efficient system described above might 

 have been successfully adopted, vrith little or no increase 

 of cost. 



Shelter. — It has already been remarked that situations 

 exposed to high winds and cold draughts are ineligible 

 for the site of a house. The proprietor, however, has 

 sometimes a difficult choice to make between magni- 

 ficent distant views, which add so much to the cheer- 

 fulness of a residence, and that warmth resulting from 

 sufficient protection, and tending much to promote its 

 comfort. Most likely he will endeavour to compound 

 the matter between the two rival claims, and, while he 

 risks some degree of exposure, will seek to mitigate it 

 by means of shelter. It is commonly found that natural 

 shelter is the most effectual. A hill, or knoll, or low 

 ridge, particularly if covered with trees, is more effica- 

 cious than a plantation on a slope ascending to the 

 house. A slight change of position will sometimes be 

 found to have in. this respect a noticeable influence. 

 In an extensive park or district of country, the aerial 

 currents generally affect a particular track, determined, 

 perhaps, by a gap in a line of hills, the terminating of 

 a ridge, or the contracting of the sides of a valley ; and 

 a small remove from that track, which may be ascer- 

 tained by observation, may afford the protection required 

 without much sacrifice of beauty. The site should be 

 open, and, if natural shelter is not to be obtained, re- 

 course must be had to planting. There are few places, 

 indeed, except in some marine residences, in which this 

 expedient is not of considerable value : still, in exposed 



