PLEASURE-GROUND

That portion of ground adjoining a dwelling in the country which is exclusively devoted to ornamental and recreative purposes. In the ancient style of gardening, the pleasure-ground was laid out in straight walks, and regular or symmetrical forms, commonly borrowed from architecture; but, in the modern style, it is laid out in winding walks, and in forms borrowed direct from nature. A portion of lawn or smooth gra y surface may be considered as e ential to the pleasure-ground under both styles. [s. 952]