GROUPING OF PLANTATIONS IN THE PARK. 75 



as to harmonize with the larger masses_, and to take oif 

 the stiff and constrained appearance presented by the 

 outlines of the denser plantations. By this mode of 

 grouping, the grass-lands will he thrown into masses of 

 greater breadth^ and the surrounding woods and groups 

 of trees mil exhibit entire scenes of themselveSj con- 

 nected yet dissimilar,, united yet diversified, by the ever- 

 varying interchange of glade and wood, of broad grassy 

 expanse, and clump and group, or single trees, and exhi- 

 biting at one time the deep shade and dense colour of 

 the mass, and at another the lighter and airier graces 

 of individual forms. When a park is laid out on these 

 principles, that is, with a properly arranged gradation 

 of combined masses and groups, and a bird's-eye view 

 of it is taken, it will present a liighly diversified appear- 

 ance ; and though there are few surfaces on which the 

 whole system of grouping can be made visible at once, yet 

 from so much of it as can be seen, the successive pictures 

 will be more numerous and more pleasing than can be 

 afforded by any chance-medley system. The increase 

 of variety and intricacy in form and position will in- 

 variably produce, in a corresponding degree, a diversity 

 in the succession and intensity of light and shade. In 

 short, we have the certain superiority of design, if that 

 design is not obtrusively formal and artificial, over the 

 imperfect, irregular, occasionally interesting, but rarely- 

 occm'ring beauties of accident. The principle of group- 

 ing in parks and pleasure-grounds, though of the utmost 

 importance, has, we believe, been sadly neglected, both 

 in the original formation and in the improvement of 

 country residences. Many planters seem to have no 

 conception of the principle. Others seem to have been 

 disposed to cover with trees all surfaces which they could 



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