Pleasure-ground

in gardening, any kind of ornamented ground surrounding # mansion or other residence. Whence the terrm comprehends all the embellishing compartments or divisions of ground and planta« tion, such as lawns, plantations of trees and shrubs, flower compartments, walks, pieces of water, . whether situated wholly within the space generally considered as proper pleasures ground, or extended over ha-has or sunk fences, or by other communications to the adjacent. fields, parks, paddocks, or out-grounds, In designs for pleasure-grounds, modern im« provements reject all formal works, as long straight walks, regular intersections, square gra -plots, corresponding parterres, quadrans gular and angular spaces, inclosed with high clipped hedges, as well as all other uniform it res. Instead of which, open spaces of gra ground of varied forms and dimensions, and winding walks, all bounded with plantations of trees, shrubs, flowers iu various clumps, and other distributions are picturesquely exhibited in a variety of rural forms; as curves, projec< tions, openings and closings, in imitation of natural a emblages, each of these being laid open to the walks and lawns. A broad expansive lawn of gra is usually placed immediately in the front of the mansion or main residence sometimes widely extended in open space om both sides, to admit of a spreading prospect 5 and sometimes more contracted towards the habitation, widening gradually outward, and having each side embellished with shrubbery plantations, groves, thickets, . in clumps; and in other parts in sweeps, curves, and projections towards the lawn, . with breaks or openings of gra spaces at intervals between the plantations; and serpentine gravel walks, winding under the shade of the trees: extended plantations being also earried round the outer boundary of the ground, in various open=: ings and closings, having also gravel walks winds ing through them for shady retirement; while in the interior divisions of the ground serpentine walks take a meandering line, and elegant 4 gra -plots occasionally open, ranging in various directions, all bordered with shrubberies,. and other tree and shrub plantations, flower | compartments, 8c. each being so distributed as continually to give a change of scene and object. The general intention therefore of modern pleasure-grounds is to unite the diversified beauties of art and nature; and if the surface be marked with inequalities and irregularities, an advantage is taken even of these deviations from uniformity, and instead of our being at the expense of squaring or levelling them, the a are humoured, slightly smoothed where ruggedne would be inappropriate with. the general character, and even increased in ‘prominence, where a bold projecting and for-. midahble contrast is demanded, or may be pic. turesquely introduced. The grand point of attention being at all times to take care that the | whole range of the prospect is not exhausted at one view, and to give to every object, and especially to every distant object, a perpetual _ change and novelty of shape and impre ion, by ‘disclosing them in different atutudes or under different aspects. It is impo ible to lay down any precise plan upon this subject, since the arrangement must altogether depend upon the character and extent of the hiatal’ landscape, and the taste and judgment of the designer. The mansion itself, however, should if pos- “sible be always erected in a situation somewhat elevated, or on the side of a moderate slope. “Yet when this is not practicable, E’en in the deep unseen, unseeing dell, in the midst of flats and plains, an artist of taste and real genius may contrive to call forth a considerable range of pleasing and picturesque effect; relinquishing, however, as in such situations he ought uniformly to do, all attempts at the grand and the magnificent, letting the modest take the place of the bold, and the beautiful that of the sublime. Such pleasure-grounds are common to the midland counties of this coun- ‘try,and in many instances produce in the mind, not indeed so striking and instantaneous an effect as landscapes full of contrast, and gigantic abruptne of scenery, but often sweeter and more durable; full of repose and tranquillity. 507