LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
425 
of effect arising from the elevated canopy sustained by and springing 
from the two ranks of stately trunks. 
This avenue would be imperfect, had it no ostensible termination ; 
but this is avoided by the erection of trellis-work already alluded to. 
Nor is it a useless ornament; it contains a sofa-like seat and a table; 
and at each end, in semicircular niches, are placed a pair of Etruscan 
vases on pedestals; and on the top, three smaller ornaments of the same 
kind. From the upper end, a narrow walk branches off at right angles 
into the pleasure-ground. When this avenue is used as an approach to 
the flower-garden, the sudden burst into the latter is a transition 
of the most pleasing nature, in consequence of the stronger light and 
variety of objects which at once strike the eye. 
Before leaving this avenue, I may as well advert to the subject of 
avenues generally, as an old, though now a neglected feature of park 
and garden scenery. In ancient times an avenue was an indispensable, 
and very often the only mark of ornamental planting visible about a 
palace or other building of note. In warm countries, avenues were 
particularly necessary for the shade they afforded, and therefore were 
planted in all places of public resort in cities, particularly those which 
were fortified, as appears on the boulevards of such places at the present 
day. The northern nations imitated the gardens of Italy, and all 
ecclesiastical establishments, founded by the bulls, and under the 
authority of the then head of the church, in the colder countries, received 
this embellishment. Royal palaces, the gardens of colleges in universi¬ 
ties, episcopal palaces, noblemen’s and gentlemen’s country seats, all 
had their avenues sometimes a mile or two in length. At the reforma¬ 
tion of English gardening, the avenue, from its right-lined formality, 
was one of the first objects on which the reformers laid violent hands. 
A sweeping sentence of condemnation was passed against them in all 
places, being private property, which were intended to be made beau¬ 
tiful. On these sad slaughter was made, and avenue^ were banished 
from every place, except royal palaces and public gardens, to which 
they are particularly appropriate; for wherever solemn or majestic 
grandeur was sought to be impressed, no other disposition of trees is 
half so effective as either close double avenues, or wide, open, right- 
lined glades of the greatest possible length. There is an imposing 
dignity about an avenue which cannot be produced, as already said, by 
any other disposition of trees; and the sons of those forefathers who, 
a century back, possessed fine avenues, have now to regret that they 
were so rashly thrown down. 
It is perfectly true that a very long avenue becomes tedious ; because, 
seeing the whole at once, from end to end, and the impression of every 
VOL. IV. — NO. L1II. 3 A 
