ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 
73 
spreading branches interlacing over our heads, and forming 
long, shadowy aisles, are, themselves alone, among the noblest 
and most imposing sylvan objects. Even the formal and cu- 
riously knotted gardens, are interesting, from the pleasing as- 
sociations which they suggest to the mind, as having been 
the favourite haunts of Shakspeare, Bacon, Spenser, and 
Milton. They are so inseparably connected, too, in our 
imaginations, with the quaint architecture of that era, that 
wherever that style of building is adopted, (and we observe 
several examples already among us,) this style of gardening 
may be considered as highly appropriate, and in excellent 
keeping with such a country house. 
It has been remarked, that the geometric style would al- 
ways be preferred in a new country, or in any country where 
the amount of land under cultivation is much less than that 
covered with natural woods and forests ; as the inhabitants 
being surrounded by scenery abounding with natural beauty, 
would always incline to lay out their gardens and pleasure- 
grounds in regular forms, because the distinct exhibition of 
art would give more pleasure by contrast, than the ele- 
gant imitation of beautiful nature. That this is true as 
regards the mass of uncultivated minds, we do not deny. 
But at the same time we affirm that it evinces a meagre taste, 
and a lower state of the art, or a lower perception of beauty 
in the individual who employs the geometrical style in such 
cases. A person, whose place is surrounded by inimitably 
grand, or sublime scenery, would undoubtedly fail to excite 
our admiration, by attempting a fac-simile imitation of such 
scenery, on the small scale of a park or garden ; but he is not, 
therefore, obliged to resort to right-lined plantations, and regu- 
lar grass plots, to produce something which shall be, at once 
sufficiently different to attract notice, and so beautiful as to 
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