90 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
sudden contrast and transition is there both natural and 
beautiful. 
In all cases good taste will suggest that the more polished 
parts of the lawns and grounds should, whatever character 
is attempted, be those nearest the house. There the most 
rare and beautiful sorts of trees are displayed, and the 
entire plantations agree in elegance with the style of art 
evinced in the mansion itself. When there is much extent, 
however, as the eye wanders from the neighborhood of the 
residence, the whole evinces less polish ; and gradually, 
towards the furthest extremities, grows ruder, until it assi- 
milates itself to the wildness of general nature around. 
This, of course, applies to grounds of large extent, and must 
not be so much enforced where the lawn embraced is but 
moderate, and therefore comes more directly under the 
eye. 
It will be remembered that, in the foregoing section, we 
stated it as one of the leading principles of the art of Land- 
scape Gardening, that in every instance where the grounds 
of a country residence have a marked natural character, 
whether of beautiful or picturesque expression, the efforts 
of the 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 improvements in planting that will affect the general 
expression of the scene, as there are but few country resi- 
dences in the United States of any importance which have 
not naturally some distinct landscape character ; and the 
labors of the improver 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 "egard 
be paid to this important point. This will be felt almost 
