88 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
masses, or groups of wood, should cluster round, or form the 
back-ground to the main edifice ; and where the offices or out- 
buildings approach the same neighbourhood, they also should 
be embraced. We do not mean, by this, to convey the idea, 
that a thick wood should be planted around and in the close 
neighbourhood of the mansion or villa, so as to impede the 
free circulation of air ; but its appearance and advantages 
may be easily produced by a comparatively loose plantation 
of groups well connectd by intermediate trees, so as to give 
all the effect of a large mass. The front, and at least that 
side nearest the approach road, will be left open or nearly 
so ; while the plantations on the back-ground will give 
dignity and importance to the house, and at the same time 
effectually screen the approach to the farm buildings, and 
other objects which require to be kept out of view ; and 
here, both for the purposes of shelter, and richness of effect, 
a good proportion of evergreens should be introduced. 
From this principal mass, the plantations must break off in 
groups of greater or less size, corresponding to the extent 
covered by it ; — if large, they will diverge into masses of con- 
siderable magnitude ; if of moderate size, in groups made up 
of a number of trees. In the lawn front of the house, appro- 
priate places will be found for a number of the most elegant 
single trees, or small groups of trees, remarkable for the beau- 
ty of their forms, foliage, or blossoms. Care must be taken, 
however, in disposing these, as well as many of the groups, 
that they are not placed so as, at some future time, to inter- 
rupt or disturb the finest points of prospect. 
In more distant parts of the plantations will also appear 
masses of considerable extent, perhaps upon the boundary 
line, perhaps in particular situations on the sides, or in the 
interior of the whole ; and the various groups which are dis- 
