present a varied outline of projection and recess, without there cannot be that breadth of light, and depth of shade, which are so rich a source of beauty in picturesque scenery. The recesses of the lawns will afford room for groups of flower-beds, or even small flower-gardens for the bedding out of greenhouse plants, annuals, etc. In some of these nooks, too, rosaries and collections of American plants are furnished with appropriate homes. Rock-works, grottoes, bowers, houses, or covered seats formed of combined moss and wicker-work, may be attached to the flower-gardens, or may be placed as detached objects in the grounds. It is not advisable, however, to confine the whole of the roses and flowering plants and shrubs to particular places: the ornamented style aimed at permits them to be scattered liberally throughout the whole place. Narrow flower-borders and small flower-beds, destined more particularly for spring flowers, may be formed near the house, but are not to be permitted to interrupt the continuity of the principal lawns.

There ought to be at least one principal walk, not less than seven feet wide, leading through the grounds and exhibiting the main objects and positions of the place. A number of secondary walks will also be required to afford access to some of the ornaments above specified, and to facilitate the inspection of the flowers. They should not be allowed however to trench on the glades of the lawns. Narrow walks should be avoided, except when connected with groups of flower-beds.

Terraces and bowling-greens may often be introduced with excellent effect, the former in combination with the house and flower garden, the latter in some of the more secluded lawns. Vases form suitable additions to the

terraces and flower-gardens; a sundial may likewise find a place, and a group or two of statuary, but this last requires to be sparingly and tastefully employed.

The inner surfaces of the boundary walls should be covered with ivy, which will present a mantle of verdure at all seasons. It is well to do this even where trees and shrubs are placed in front of the walls, for they are often more conspicuous than they ought to be in the winter and spring months. Portions of these walls may be rendered interesting by having half-hardy climbing plants placed against them in spaces of six or seven feet broad. To afford protection to these exotics, it is a good expedient to plant between the above-mentioned spaces vigorous specimens of Magnolia grandiflora, sweet bay, arbutus, and common laurel, trained up to cover three feet in breadth, and to project eighteen inches or two

These evergreens, if well kept, will not only form fine verdant columns, but will be found to yield a considerable degree of shelter to the more tender plants trained in the intermediate spaces. The walls of the house, as also the porches and verandahs, may be decorated with climbing plants and shrubs.

The pleasure-ground villa is generally the choice of the botanist and flower-fancier; and in the vicinity of cities it is often the abode of those whose wealth permits them to indulge a taste for fine scenery and elegant decoration. As being more complicated and more carefully furnished in all its parts, it requires a larger outlay at first, and a more laborious, and therefore more expensive keeping, than the plainer form, on which we now proceed to offer some remarks.

The Park Villa.-In this species of villa, from onehalf to two-thirds of the whole area is taken up with

pasture-land, arranged into one larger or two smaller fields to suit convenience; while the remaining space is allotted to the house and its offices, the kitchen garden, and lawns with the appended shrubberies. For example, and without laying down any proportions to be adhered to invariably, say that the whole ground to be operated on amounts to seven acres: we may suppose that half an acre is occupied by the site of the house, offices, and their relative courts, that one acre is allotted to the kitchen garden, and another acre and a half is distributed among the lawns, shrubberies, and approach,— there would be left four acres for pasture to be grazed by sheep, or by a few cows, or a horse or two, as the wants of the family might require. In this way the whole place might be arranged so as to be a miniature representation of a park and pleasure-grounds on a larger scale. The grass field, then, thus promoted to the dignity of a park, may be formed on one side or other of the house, or may surround it on two or three sides, and should constitute the principal lawns. It may be divided from the dressed grounds by wire fences or iron hurdles, which, from their lightness, are better adapted for the internal fencing of small places than walls and hedges. It may also have a few small groups of trees irregularly scattered, but not dotted over it. The dressed grounds should be attached to the house; but a curtain of trees and shrubbery will be needed to encircle the little park so as to screen the boundary walls where these are too conspicuous, to shelter the kitchen garden, and, in short, to conceal anything that is objectionable. It may sometimes happen, however, that the extreme verge of the field may seem to pass imperceptibly and harmoniously into the adjacent property, and if there are no special

reasons for making the distinction, the ring curtain in that quarter may well be dispensed with. The finest part of the pleasure-grounds should be between the house and the pasture-field, and both should be laid out so that the one should appear a continuation of the other. As recommended in the other form of a villa, a considerable variety of trees and shrubs should be planted in the grounds. Besides the walks in the immediate vicinity of the house, one leading walk should pass round the boundary, communicating with those in the kitchen garden, and also with the approach, if there is one. A small lake, a fountain, vases, and other artificial decorations, may often be introduced with good effect, but only sparingly, on account of the limited extent of the dressed grounds. The kitchen garden, with its structures, may be placed at one end or along one side of the place, as convenience may dictate. If the approach comes in contact with the pasture-field, it should only skirt the side of it, and should be partially shaded by groups of shrubs and trees.

The park villa is often a very agreeable, and, though plainer in its style than the other, a very beautiful residence. If well arranged at first, it is the more easily managed of the two. Where only a moderate amount of forcing and greenhouse work is required, one man with occasional assistance, or at most two men, will be sufficient to keep a place such as that described above in perfect order.

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CHAPTER XII.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE LAYING-OUT AND IMPROVEMENT OF GROUNDS.

Landscape Gardening.-Analogies to Landscape Painting.—Comparative power over Materials.-Simplicity and Multiplicity of Points of View.-Processes wholly and partly tentative.-Propriety of revision.-Utility of plans.-Hazard of preparatory operations.

In the preceding chapters we have adhered, as closely as possible, to practical views of the subjects which we have treated, and we have carefully abstained from all merely theoretical reasoning. Our preparatory studies, however, as well as our experience in the exercise of the profession, have led us to some general conclusions regarding the principles and the practice of the art, which it may be proper to bring under the notice of the reader, both as conducing to the unity and as adding to the completeness of the work. To a brief exposition of these conclusions, then, we shall devote this chapter; and we shall allow our remarks on principles to run at once into their practical applications.

The name Landscape Gardening, usually given to the