302 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
natural deformity which may interfere with that expression. 
Such are, unsightly ridges of earth, small lumpish hills, the 
ragged elevations where old fences have been removed, or 
deep furrows created by the former action of the plough. If 
there are any uncouth pits or ugly hollows, such must he 
either filled up, or concealed by plantations, and all excres- 
cences that interfere with the prevailing expression of the 
whole should be removed. 
In the next place, the improver will examine the formation 
of the ground, as it appears naturally. If too rugged, — the 
sweeps and undulations sometimes easy and beautiful, but at 
others hard and disconnected, — he will endeavour to soften 
and remove this inequality. This will be easily executed, if 
some of the eminences are broken into too high, sudden, 
and abrupt hills, by carefully lowering them into more 
graceful elevations, and placing the superfluous earth in the 
adjacent hollows : proper regard being paid to portions of 
the scene, already pleasing, by producing such a surface as 
will connect itself naturally with the same, when the im- 
provements shall be entirely completed. 
Should the surface, on the contrary, be somewhat broken 
or undulating, but not distinctly so, appearing rather heavy 
and undecided between a level, and finely varied ground, the 
operations must be directed in such a manner as to increase 
the boldness of the whole. The ground of a country resi- 
dence is often brought into such a state by the continued ac- 
tion of the plough at some former period, which has gradu- 
ally levelled down the gentle eminences and filled up the 
hollows, till in some places, it appears scarcely struggling out 
of a level. The course is then obvious ; the superfluous earth 
which chokes up the valleys, must be removed again to the 
neighbouring hills, where it belongs, when the natural 
