There are few natural pictures, except such as are very fine and commanding, which do not lose their power of attraction in the precise ratio of their breadth. That which is gazed upon through a variety of comparatively narrow openings will, if only just above common place, win more notice than if it lay before the observer in its naked expanse. And as we pass along behind a screen that is gracefully unfolded, as it were, at intervals to reveal to us fragments of landscape, curiosity is excited to catch those points hidden by the opaque portions of the screen, and an extreme diversity of prospect is gained.

Whether the plantations between different openings, made to exhibit a pleasing landscape, be the result of necessity, to hide what is objectionable, or of choice, to heighten and impart variety to the pictures intermediately displayed, their outlines and edges alike require to be most carefully and artistically treated. Not that this should be artificially done, but with such refined and delicate art, that it shall appear as if Nature herself had polished them off. Roundness, and yet irregularity, play of outline, an intermixture of evergreen and deciduous plants, forest-trees, treelike shrubs, and such as are decidedly shrubby, with variety of form and colour, should be their chief characteristics.

When any broad sheet of water, such as the sea, a large river, or a lake, forms the principal object from the front of a house, or from some point in the garden, the value of a good irregular woody foreground (Fig. 17) will be even more apparent. A great glare of water is seldom agreeable to the sight; and in some kinds of weather may be most disagreeable or melancholy. The passage across it of vessels of all sorts, likewise, becomes far more interesting and delightful when it is only to be observed at intervals, and is occasionally lost sight of. If water be looked at through a leafy screen, it is, moreover, in some degree sobered down thereby. It does not dazzle or pain the eye so much. It has all the charm of light and shadow. Its own lustre and loveliness are brightened by the contrast. It is a gem with a dark setting.

There may be states of the atmosphere in which a large unfurnished expanse of water will be perfectly satisfactory. On a rich summer's evening, towards sunset, or during twilight, especially after warm showers, water may often be in the highest

degree beautiful, without any accompaniment. But in general it will either be too glittering or too cold to be altogether satisfying, without some aid from trees as a foreground; and in this changeful and chilly climate, the periods at which its own naked

beauty can be entirely appreciated will be of rare occurrence. It is, therefore, wise to provide for common and usual enjoyment, and to leave extraordinary pleasures to be otherwise obtained. The scene that is most pleasing at all seasons of the year will undoubtedly furnish the largest amount of gratification, and make a habitation most cheerful.

11. Nothing imparts a greater air of refinement and gentility to a garden than a certain amount of richness and polish. The first of these may be attained by means of a tasteful selection of plants and flowers, and by the sparing use of appropriate architectural decorations. Polish is more a matter that relates to the mechanical execution of the design. Still, it may be advanced a step higher, and applied to the expression as well as the finish.

In the outlines of figures and beds, in the arrangement of plants, and in the shaping of the ground, much may be done to create this delicate grace. Everything straggling or ragged, all that produces confusion, and, as a rule, all angularity and harshness, are completely opposed to it. Extreme smoothness, easiness of transitions, gracefulness of lines, softness of undulation, lightness and elegance of ornament, are some of its leading manifestations.

Both richness and polish will, to a certain extent, be the result of keeping, as well as attention to matters of detail in the first formation. A place can never possess either, unless the taste shown in the design be carried into the minutest details of the execution, and be maintained by subsequent care and correct feeling. Hard deep edges to the walks and borders, slopes or undulations which unite with the general level by a convex instead of a concave line, and little irregularities (that are not undulations) in the surface of a lawn, are quite incompatible with high polish; as extreme thinness of plants in beds, poverty and weakness of masses or specimens, large staring patches of bare soil visible in the borders or beds skirting a lawn, an inferior order of plants in the neighbourhood of the house, or by the sides of the grass glades, and the use of common-place or uncongenial ornaments, are inconsistent with richness.

12. To conceal the offices and out-buildings belonging to a residence is a matter of the most ordinary kind; yet it may be very clumsily effected. Planting is in general the most effectual means. It should not, however, be carried so close to the building as to darken the windows materially, or occasion dampness. And that this may be attended to without intruding too much upon the space of the garden, the arrangement of the house must be adjusted accordingly. A good deal, in short, will depend upon the architect. Perhaps it is best, when the servants' apartments are on the ground floor, to keep them wholly on the least important side of the building, as regards aspect and scenery; and have their windows looking for the most part into the houseyard, which can then be easily planted out. If treated as an inferior wing to the house, they should always recede far enough from the principal elevation, to give space for the admission of light and air between them and the plantation, or whatever else is used for screening them.

F

The offices of a house may be otherwise hidden by means of a close trellis, covered with climbers, intermixed with Ivy; by a raised bank or mound, with a few shrubs on the top of it, and a dwarf wall and area on the inside next the house; by a low greenhouse or small range of glass-houses, or a colonnade or covered way, when there is room for any of these; or by an ornamental wing-wall for tender climbing plants, attached to the house. The preference to be given to any of these expedients must be determined altogether by the locality, the style of the house, and the tastes or desires of the owner. Either of the methods suggested will require applying with skill, or they will, in remedying one evil, only create another.

The annexed plan (Fig. 18) is brought forward in this place. to point out how the offices, yards, &c., in the rear of a house may be disguised, while, at the same time, a considerable amount of effect is produced in the way of support to the house, and of general architectural grouping. It is a small portion of the plan of grounds belonging to Owen Jones, Esq., of Stanacres, near Thornton, Cheshire. The house and offices (1) are in the early English style of architecture, and are connected with the conservatory (3) by a covered way, (2,) which is open in front. At (4) is a boiler shed, in the rear of which are the house-yard, gardenyard, stables, &c. An ornamental wall, (5,) with buttresses, and built of red sandstone, like the house, joins the conservatory to a summer-house, (6,) which latter terminates two principal walks, is open on three sides, and is likewise a stone erection. The whole partially encloses and shelters a small flower-garden. Additional character is obtained by having the conservatory and covered way on a raised terrace, level with the house, and about four feet above the flower-garden, to which last it is joined by a terrace bank (7) of grass. The border (8) round the base of the wall is filled with choice flowers and climbers. Dwarf evergreens are placed where the remaining figures occur, (9,) being specimens of Andromeda floribunda, (10,) a dwarf Rhododendron, (11,) plants of Erica carnea, (12,) a bed of Daphne pontica, with a few Rhododendrons, (13,) Yucca gloriosd, (14,) a mass chiefly filled with Rhododendrons, and,. (15,) Hodgins's Holly. The kitchengarden lies to the west of the boiler-shed, (4,) and the wall running south-westwards from the conservatory constitutes the kitchen-garden wall on the south-east side of the latter.