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PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



Sect. II. — The Laying-out or the Grounds of 

 A Villa. 



We take up this subject^ in the second place^ because 

 the execution of the works which it embraces is generally 

 postponed tUl the completion of the house and offices. 

 We would agaiuj however^ insist on the expediency of 

 obtaining a plan of the grounds along with the plan of 

 the house; as very much of the effect of both will 

 depend on their mutual adjustment. In a work of 

 limited extent like the present, it would be inconsistent 

 with the design in view to give formal and detailed direc- 

 tions for the laying-out of villa residences. It is evident 

 that the designs must vary considerably along with the 

 diversified dimensions and surfaces on which they are to 

 be executed. At the same time the general principles 

 involved in the designing of parks and pleasure-grounds 

 will regulate the environs of the house, proper allowance 

 and modification being made for the more limited extent 

 of the latter. The grounds of the villa should, generally 

 speaking, present a miniature example of the finest por- 

 tions of the pleasure-grounds and park. Its scenery, 

 indeed, may partake more or less of either of these, or 

 may combine the character of both ; in other words, we 

 may have the pleasure-ground villa or the park villa, or a 

 union of the two varieties. The peculiar character to be 

 elicited must be determined by the taste of the proprietor 

 and a due consideration of the nature of the ground. 

 While then we would refer the reader to the earlier 

 part of this work, we would offer some special remarks 

 in the way of aiding the application of the principles 



