intended to embellish, and above all, the entire work should be consistent. One style should be chosen, and adhered to throughout. Nothing looks

so poor and tasteless, as a mixture of the styles. Thus, it is ridiculous to see parterres, and laboriously constructed geometrical flower-beds, placed in the midst of a Lawn, or to see walks, in one place straight and stiff, in another, easy and flowing; or Plantation, here disposed in regular shapes, shaven and trimmed, in another place growing in irregular, naturally-shaped groups or masses. Such a confounding of styles is a grave error, but too often met with in this country.

In calculating the expenses connected with a Pleasure-Ground, it must be borne in mind that keeping is as important a matter, as laying out. The more tasteful and elaborate the design, the greater will also be the trouble and expense of keeping, and as cleanliness and order are the two chief requisites to beauty in gardening, it is well to think of this, in this country, where comparatively few working gardeners are kept. If the improver has not leisure or means to spare to have an elaborately-laid-out Pleasure-Ground kept

in perfect order and neatness, he will do much better to choose a style of embellishment which, though perhaps more simple, and to his taste less beautiful, he will eventually find much more pleasing, because easier to keep in order. In this country, where labor is very dear, every design, however beautiful or tasteful, must recommend itself chiefly by the comparative ease with which it may be kept; else, if carried out, as soon as it loses the charm of novelty, it will become a tiresome, costly burden, which will eventually only excite the disgust of the proprietor. Many a pleasure-ground, laid out in a costly and fanciful manner, we have seen changed into a simple lawn, whose smooth and pleasant turf gave much more pleasure than had the intricate and laboriously-arranged `flowerbeds and parterres. The improver should therefore aim to produce in his Pleasure-Ground, such features of Natural scenery as, while sufficiently showing the hand of art, will yet require but little care or attention. Such are groups and masses of lofty trees, which will, with comparatively little expense, grow up, and improve from year to year in beauty and shade. There is, to our taste, much

greater beauty in a verdant Lawn, enriched by masses and groups of flowers, and diversified by noble trees and shrubs, in whose shade rustic seats and benches may invite to rest and repose, than in all the fanciful gimcracks, and pretty things, that some gardeners have in common with the confectioner, and which are assuredly more in place when decorating a cake, than when embellishing a pleasure-ground.

The Pleasure-Ground should possess, if possible, charms for all seasons of the year. The flowers, shrubs and trees which bloom and bud earliest in Spring, should be placed nearest the house, in order to extend to its inhabitants as early as possible, the cheering influences of Spring. The finest masses of flowers and shrubbery should always be placed where they may show to best advantage from the windows. To enliven the scenery in winter, Evergreens should be provided; these also add much to the beauty and comfort of the place in summer. They should not, however, surround the house at regular distances, like sentinels. Grouped in natural forms, at the sides of the house, they will create a fine effect; and when the dwelling

is situated at a little distance from the street, and is fronted by a lawn; a tasteful planting of Evergreens will add very much to the appearance of the place.

The surface of the ground should be slightly undulating, rather than flat; the grass on the lawn, carefully tended with the scythe and roller, should be short and dense; the roads and walks should excite admiration by their easy, graceful lines, and by their firmness and smoothness, and the distinct and cleanly keeping of their borders; and fine masses and groups of beautiful Shrubs and Flowers, should greet the eye in every direction. To break the heat of summer, wide-spreading forest trees should cast a cooling shade over the house and the adjacent walks. Under these trees, beside the walks, resting-places should be interspersed, from whence the finest Views should open, as by accident. As a general rule, the north and west sides of the grounds are best suited for Evergreens, while Flowers and flowering Shrubs are best placed on the south and east.

Pleasure-Grounds of small extent, surrounded by other property, or bordered by the highway, may have privacy given them, by suitable Plantation.