Landscape Gardening, as its name intimates, is the composition of beautiful scenery, so that all artifice is concealed by the blending of trees, shrubs, ground, and water: thus forming vistas gratifying as those which occur naturally. Admiration for such scenery is an innate quality of the human mind; and successfully to imitate such scenery requires judgment as well as taste. It is not possible, without an enormous outlay, to introduce any species of landscape beauty upon a given plot of ground. There is the beauty of the level surface, quite unattainable upon a surface which is abrupt and broken. The beauty of the clay districts is not to be secured upon those of the chalk; neither on light uplands can be arranged' the dense beauties of well-watered alluvions. "Consult the genius of the place" is an axiom which has been derided, but which is dictated by the soundest sense.

A writer upon the general principles of landscape gardening has some very judicious remarks, from which the following are extracts: -

"Although due light and shade are necessary to bring out striking effects, colour must be attended to. Light and shade, we all know, when the sun shines, vary every moment; and therefore it becomes a study so to assort objects, within range of the principal point of view, as to bring out various good effects. Not only must we regard the diurnal motion of the sun, but his position in the ecliptic; so that when he is at various elevations and positions, light may make the lights and shadows spread out where they may make the strongest impression on the eye.

"This is a point not much attended to, but one of the greatest value, and well deserving the closest study by the landscape-gardener. Frequently the admission, at a particular spot, of a mere streak of light enlivens a whole scene, and excites the highest admiration. Sunshine through trees, when the orb itself is concealed, and the rays are penetrating, a thin shower falling among them, produces at times delightful effects.

"The variety of green tints is very great, and their disposition of importance. Green is a mixture of blue and yellow, and the predominance of either must be studied. A different suit of colours appears in the autumn, the yellow prevailing, but mixed with red instead of blue, which seems to disappear from the tints of autumn. Some trees change colour early, as the horse-chestnut; others late, as the beech and oak. Advantage should be taken of this, and trees arranged accordingly. Evergreens should generally be so disposed as to form a mass when other trees are naked; but, in some situations, single pines and firs, if room be given to them, produce a fine effect.

"When a house is to be built where trees already abound, difficulties will occur in choosing a site. It is dangerous to cut down trees before the building has been erected; and yet effects may not be brought out, so as to assist in the choice, without thinning. It is also difficult to conduct roads where trees stand thickly; in such a case the landscape-gardener should proceed with great caution, removing first such trees as are not in themselves worthy of a place.

"The disposition of water, where sheets of it are to be interspersed with trees and shrubs, has a fine effect in certain situations when managed with judgment. But we cannot teach judgment any more than taste, both being gifts of nature.

"Of all things connected with landscape-gardening, buildings are often most offensive; and we find the grossest defects of taste frequently displayed both in their style and position. Many persons are apt to associate external nature with the state of society in time long past. This is an error that has led to many trespasses against nature's rule. A man will build a castle because the situation he fixed for it is a commanding one, and would have answered all the purposes of defence in a rude state of society. His taste leads him into expense, and to the sacrifice of convenience and comfort. The adoption of former styles shows taste in some instances; but we rather think it an indication of want of invention. The country is covered with new residences in the Elizabethan style; and there is a sameness that is rather tiresome, and far from being so picturesque as the castellated, with all its modern incongruities.

"Dwelling-houses should be arranged for comfort, and, where means are at command, also for elegance and grandeur, both internally and externally.

"The ruins of ancient buildings produce a most pleasing effect, and they ought to be preserved; but it would be preposterous in our day to build that which is felt to be impressive only when in a state of ruin. This is a subject not altogether separated from landscape gardening.

"When a professor finds buildings in his way, it is his business either to hide them or to exhibit them to the best advantage." - Gard. Chron.

Under this general head it would be misplaced to enter more fully into details; for these will be found, under their appropriate titles, in other pages, and chiefly borrowed from Mr. Whate-ley, who has published more correct views upon the art of tastefully arranging grounds than any man who has ever written upon the subject.

A taste for landscape-gardening, like that for the higher order of painting, sculpture and other fine arts, is the slow product of wealth and easy leisure, and is distinct from a love of flowers evinced alike by the young and the aged, the intellectual and the illiterate. In the United States, as might be expected in a new country, the mass are too busily engaged in the every day cares of life to devote attention to such objects - but few comparatively, "the architects of their own fortunes,"' have acquired the means to indulge in luxurious expenditures. We are, however, acquiring taste on this and kindred subjects, and with the increasing wealth, the general education and superior intelligence which characterize the American people, there can be no doubt that long before we can be called an old nation, our tastes will have been refined, and our capacity to appreciate the beautiful largely developed. Already we have evidence of"the march of improvement," as exhibited in the pretty cottages, with their decorated | grounds, around our towns and cities; an onward step towards that which in portions of Europe, especially in England, gives such charm to the country, and to country life.

Those who wish to consult works on Landscape Gardening and Rural Architecture, almost indivisible, are referred to Loudon's "Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm and Villa Architecture," Loudon's "Suburban Gardener,"Downing's "Landscape Gardening," Downing's "Cottage Residences," etc.