294 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
leaves the lawn and traverses the farm, giving the pro- 
prietor an opportunity to examine his crops, or exhibit 
his agricultural resources to his friends. 
Walks are laid out for purposes similar to Drives, but 
are much more common, and may be introduced into every 
scene, however limited. They are intended solely for 
promenades, or exercise on foot, and should therefore be 
dry and firm, if possible, at all seasons when it is desirable 
to use them. Some may be open to the south, sheltered 
with evergreens, and made dry and hard for a warm pro- 
menade in winter ; others formed of closely mown turf, 
and thickly shaded by a leafy canopy of verdure, for a cool 
retreat in the midst of summer. Others again may lead to 
some sequestered spot, and terminate in a secluded rustic 
seat, or conduct to some shaded dell or rugged eminence, 
where an extensive prospect can be enjoyed. Indeed, the 
genius of the place must suggest the direction, length, and 
number of the walks to be laid out, as no fixed rules can be 
imposed in a subject so everchanging and different. It 
should, however, never be forgotten, that the walk ought 
always to correspond to the scene it traverses, being rough 
where the latter is wild and picturesque, sometimes scarcely 
differing from a common footpath, and more polished as 
the surrounding objects show evidences of culture and high 
keeping. In direction , like the approach, it should take 
easy flowing curves, though it may often turn more 
abruptly at the interposition of an obstacle. The chief 
beauty of curved and bending lines in walks, lies in the 
new scenes which by means of them are opened to the 
eye. In the straight walk of half a mile the whole is seen 
at a glance, and there is too often but little to excite the 
spectator to pursue the search ; but in the modern style, at 
