EMBELLISHMENTS. 
363 
We are well aware that from the comparative rarity of any- 
thing like a highly kept place in this country, the want of 
this, which is indeed like the last finish to the residence, is 
scarcely felt at all. But this only proves the infant state 
of Landscape Gardening here, and the little attention that 
has been paid to the highest details of the art. 
If our readers will imagine, with us, a pretty villa, con- 
veniently arranged and well constructed, in short, complete 
in itself as regards its architecture, and at the same time, 
properly placed in a smooth well kept lawn, studded with 
groups and masses of fine trees, they will have an example 
often to be met with, of a place, in the graceful school of 
design, about which, however, there, is felt to be a certain 
incongruity between the house, a highly artificial object, 
and the surrounding grounds, where the prevailing ex- 
pression in the latter is that of beautiful nature. 
Let us suppose, for further illustration, the same house 
and grounds with a few additions. The house now rising 
directly out of the green turf which encompasses it, we 
will surround by a raised platform or terrace, wide enough 
for a dry, firm walk, at all seasons ; on the top of the wall 
or border of this terrace, we will form a handsome parapet, 
or balustrade, some two or three feet high, the details of 
which shall be in good keeping with the house, whether 
Grecian or Gothic. On the coping of this parapet, if the 
house is in the classical style, we will find suitable places, 
at proper intervals, for some handsome urns, vases, etc. 
On the drawing-room side of the house, that is, the side 
towards which the best room or rooms look, we will place 
the dower-garden, into which we descend from the terrace 
by a few steps. This flower-garden may be simply what 
its name denotes, a place exclusively devoted to the culti- 
