86 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
1 y unfit for adoption in a smooth, level surface, and the 
contrary. Indeed, the chief beauty of the modern style is 
the variety produced by following a few leading principles, 
and applying them to different and varied localities ; un 
like the geometric style, which proceeded to level, and 
arrange, and erect its avenues and squares, alike in every 
situation, with all the precision and certainty of mathe- 
matical demonstration. 
In all grounds to be laid out, however, which are of a 
lawn or park-like extent, and call for the exercise of judg- 
ment and taste, the mansion or dwelling-house, being itself 
the chief or leading object in the scene, should form, as it 
were, the central point, to which it should be the object of 
the planter to give importance. In order to do this effec- 
tually, the large 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 
neighborhood, 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 neighborhood 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 connected 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 effectu- 
ally 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. 
