ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 
89 
tributed between, should be so managed as, though in most 
cases distinct, yet to appear to be the connecting links which 
unite these distant shadows in the composition, with the 
larger masses near the house. Sometimes several small 
groups will be almost joined together ; at others the effect 
may be kept up by a small group, aided by a few neighbour- 
ing single trees. This, for a park-like place. Where the 
place is small, a pleasure-ground character is all that can be 
attained. But by employing chiefly shrubs, and only a 
few trees, very similar and highly beautiful effects may be 
attained. 
The grand object in all this, should be to open to the eye, 
from the windows or front of the house, a wide surface, par- 
tially broken up and divided, by groups and masses of trees, 
into a number of pleasing lawns or openings, differing in size 
and appearance, and producing a charming variety in the 
seene, either when seen from a given point, or when exam- 
ined in detail. It must not be forgotten that, as a general 
rule, the grass or surface of the lawn answers as the princi- 
pal light, and the woods or plantations as the shadows, in 
the same manner in nature as in painting, and that these 
should be so managed as to lead the eye to the mansion as 
the most important object when seen from without, or corres' 
pond to it in grandeur and magnitude, when looked upon 
from within the house. If the surface is too much crowded 
with groups of foliage, breadth of light will be found want- 
ing ; if left too bare, there will be felt, on the other hand 
an absence of the noble effect of deep and broad shadows. 
One of the loveliest charms of a fine park is, undoubtedly, 
variation or undulation of surface. Every thing, accordingly, 
which tends to preserve and strengthen this pleasing charac- 
ter, should be kept constantly in view. Where, therefore^ 
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