The Avenue. In a previous page it was said that the Avenue is a species of approach, leading towards the house in a straight line, and bordered by parallel rows of trees. It may be asked, when is this form of approach to be adopted? and what is to be done with it when it has been established? These questions are answered in our observations on the park, along with some remarks on the relation of the avenue to the general scenery of a place. At present it may be enough to say that avenues are most effective on flat surfaces, and that it is only on these, and perhaps on ground with a slight and uniform inclination, we can recommend them to be in any case planted. If the undulations of the ground are but slight, open avenues may still be admissible; and these open avenues, when connected with the lawns of the mansion-house, should be of considerable breadth. When, however, they are formed as approaches, their width should not be greater than the height to which the trees forming them usually grow say sixty or seventy feet for common elms, planes, and limes, and from seventy to ninety feet for beeches and English elms. If wider, they will be deficient in that stately and imposing effect which is the principal charm of an avenue. The open variety requires double rows of trees on each side; and if these are planted at twenty or twenty-five feet apart, they form subordinate close avenues, like the side aisles of a Gothic church, and afford spaces for charming shaded walks. The usual effect of the avenue in the park is to divide the landscape; and this, indeed, is the principal objection to its adoption, as in this respect it is almost totally inconsistent with the modern style of laying out grounds. There are sometimes positions near the entrance-gate where it can be introduced

with good effect; and it may be employed without injury to the scenery when the approach passes through a wood. In our judgment nothing is more miserable than the taste which converts the bare ill-grown trees of a hedgerow, which has bordered some parish road, into an avenue through whose narrow irregular line an approach is made to pass. Certainly these stunted deformities should be prevented from dividing the landscape by the dividing stroke of the woodman's axe.

The Fine Approach.-The species of access to a mansion-house which we have ventured to call a fine approach is seldom found connected with large residences or extensive estates, but not unfrequently with such small places as require only one approach and a back road. We may describe it as a carriage-way from the entrance to the house, so laid out as to display all the principal views and leading beauties of the place. It leaves nothing worth looking at to be seen from the windows, and it renders all further inspection from walks or gardens unnecessary. It is in itself a thing of primary importance. Indeed, nothing can rival its ambition, except, perhaps, the vanity of the individual to whom it owes its formation. These approaches are often unnecessarily prolonged. We have seen them following the boundary of the property to a considerable distance from the entrance, the only objects between them and the public road being the park wall and a belt of shrubs quite insufficient to deaden the noise of carriages outside. In other places they may be seen extending for a mile or more through a narrow stripe of trees planted on the sloping banks and knolls, on the side of a small valley or of a wide glen along which the public road passes. This is, indeed, the favourite position of the fine

approach. The highest powers of the designer, who is rash and inexperienced enough to undertake the work, are called into exercise. Cuts, and curves, and gradients, and embankments, are all elaborated for the purpose of enabling the approach to occupy the principal points of view. In the limited grounds no room is left for the formation of a good walk. The approach is walk and ride and everything. Seclusion there is none, except that the fine approach is not much frequented, people familiar with it often preferring to go by the back way to the house. It is evident that in such elaborations the proprietor thinks more of securing the applause of strangers than of consulting his own comfort and convenience. He is content to admire and enjoy by proxy. In short, of all the follies committed in the laying out of country residences, the fine approach may be allowed to wear the crown.

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CHAPTER III.

PLEASURE-GROUNDS AND FLOWER-GARDENS.

Position of the Pleasure-grounds.-Composition of the Landscape. -Terraces; Walls; Grass Slopes; Shrubs on Terrace-banks; Stairs on Terraces; the Upper Surface of Terraces.—The Flower-garden; Site of the Flower-garden; Ground Colour; the Parterre; the Rosary; the American Garden; the Mixed Flower-garden; Artistical Decorations; Rockworks; Shelter of the Flower-garden. -Walks in the Pleasure-grounds.— Formation of Lawns.

UNDER the designation of pleasure-grounds or dressed grounds are comprehended those enclosed spaces within the park, and in immediate connection with the house, which receive regular keeping and dressing. In ordinary circumstances, their walks are cleaned and their lawns are cut two or three times each season, and the leaves which fall on them are cleared off every winter. Besides the amount of labour thus bestowed on them, these grounds are further distinguished from the woodlands of the park by the quantity of shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous, which they contain, and which make up the bulk of their underwood.

Position of the Pleasure-Grounds.-These grounds should be so placed as wholly or partially to surround

the mansion-house. We would have said wholly, were it not preferable that the entrance front should be in great measure open to the park. When the entrance front is enclosed, it should only be for the protection of the gravel and lawn in the immediate vicinity of the house. The extent of this gravel and lawn will of course be regulated by the size of the whole place. It is seldom expedient to have much lawn in front of the mansion. Generally speaking, it is better that the grazing lands of the park should occupy this position, and that the scenery on this side of the house should partake rather of the character of the park than of the pleasure-grounds. Being limited, then, on the entrance front of the house, the pleasure-grounds, on the drawing-room front and on the other sides, will receive a proportional enlargement. Their actual extent must be determined by the nature of the ground and the size of the park. Perhaps they may include all the space in the vicinity of the house, with the exception of that on the entrance front, from which may be had the finest views in the park and in the surrounding country. These views add much to the interest and variety of the grounds. If there are few or no prospects of this kind, the greater is the necessity that the pleasure-grounds should be so laid out as to awaken interest and to afford gratification within themselves.

Composition of the Landscape.-The views which it is desirable should be possessed from the house require a varied arrangement of the dressed grounds. As formerly stated, those on the drawing-room front should, if possible, be the finest. Sometimes they may all be

included in one prospect, the pleasure-grounds forming the foreground of the picture, and the park and exterior