92 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
he improver will be most successful, if he contributes, by 
his art, to aid and strengthen that expression. This should 
ever be borne in mind, when we are commencing any im- 
provements in planting that will affect the general expression 
of the scene ; as there are but few country residences in the 
United States, of any importance, which have not naturally 
some distinct landscape character, and the labours of the im- 
prover will be productive of much greater satisfaction, and 
more lasting pleasure, when they aim at effects in keeping 
with the whole scene, than if no regard be paid to this im- 
portant point. This will be felt, almost intuitively, by per- 
sons who, perhaps, would themselves be incapable of 
describing the cause of their gratification, but would per- 
ceive the contrary at once ; as many are unable to analyze 
the pleasure derived from harmony in music, while they at 
once perceive the introduction of discordant notes. 
We do not intend that this principle should apply so close- 
ly, that grounds naturally picturesque, shall have nothing of 
the softening touches of general beauty ; or that a demesne 
characterized by the latter expression should not be occasion- 
ally enlivened with a few “ smart touches ” of the former. 
This is often necessary, indeed, to prevent tame scenery from 
degenerating into insipidity, — or picturesque, into wildness, 
too great to be appropriated in a country residence. Pictu- 
resque trees give new spirit to groups of merely beautiful 
ones, and the latter sometimes heighten by contrast the value 
of the former. All of which, however, does not prevent the 
'predominance of the leading features of either style, suffi- 
ciently strong to mark it as such ; while, occasionally, some- 
thing of zest, or elegance, may be borrowed from the opposite 
character, to suit the wishes, or gratify the taste of the pro- 
prietor. 
