EMBELLISHMENTS. 
401 
and smooth stones, in the midst of an open lawn, or the 
centre of a flower-garden. But if we can make choice of 
a situation where a rocky bank or knoll already partially 
exists, or would be in keeping with the form of the ground 
and the character of the scene, then we may introduce 
such accompaniments with the best possible hope of 
success. 
It often happens in a place of considerable extent, that 
somewhere in conducting the walks through the grounds, 
we meet with a ridge with a small rocky face, or perhaps 
with a large rugged single rock, or a bank where rocky 
summits just protrude themselves through the surface. The 
common feeling against such uncouth objects, would direct 
them to be cleared away at once out of sight. But let us 
take the case of the large rugged rock, and commence our 
picturesque operations upon it. We will begin by collect- 
ing from some rocky hill or valley in the neighborhood of 
the estate, a sufficient quantity of rugged rocks, in size 
from a few pounds to half a ton or more, if necessary, pre- 
ferring always such as are already coated with mosses and 
lichens. These we will assemble around the base of a large 
rock, in an irregular somewhat pyramidal group, bedding 
them sometimes partially, sometimes almost entirely in soil 
heaped in irregular piles around the rock. The rocks 
must be arranged in a natural manner, avoiding all regu- 
larity and appearance of formal art, but placing them 
sometimes in groups of half a dozen together, overhanging 
each other, and sometimes half bedded in the soil, and a 
little distance apart. There are no rules to be given foi 
such operations, but the study of natural groups, of a 
character similar to that which we wish to produce, will 
afford sufficient hints if the artist is 
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