One of the greatest objects of art is to add to the pleasures at our command. In the language of trade, we desire to "work a thing for all it is worth." In gastronomic art, we may pronounce a potato very good, but we take more pleasure out of it under certain circumstances, when we add other articles to it. There are scores of methods, from potato salad to potatoes simply boiled or roasted, that add to the simple pleasure of the tuber itself. There are, however, hundreds of people who do not know how simple and easy it is to get varied pleasures from the simple potato, and just so there are hundreds who do not know how much more enjoyment they may have at small cost out of a little piece of garden ground than they at present enjoy. Landscape garden art, like the gastronomic art, teaches us simply to get out of the raw material "all it is worth".

In landscape gardening, the artist has to deal with four leading elements that affect his work the earth, the air, the sky and the water.

The good landscape gardener never forgets these divisions in his arrangements. It is not always that he can get them all at command, but he is happy when he does. Usually little is thought of but the ground. It is graded, planted and roads led over it, and it may have some architectural ornamentation thrown in. But planting with regard to the air - or that which is above the earth - is seldom thought of. Few things add so much to the impression of extent as glimpses of sky through shadowy woods or plantations, and the morning or evening sun affords beauties that should never be planted out. Air in its cooling breezy capacity, in its sheltering offices from rude winds, in its influence on health in so many aspects, is of commanding consideration.

Side Terrace and Lake, Chismere.

Water, when use can be made of it in landscape gardening, is possibly one of the greatest attractions to a country home, and can be made a tender to the most charming effects when under the control of a master hand. A fountain, a pool, even a little rill through a fern garden, will make a spot almost barren of other charms seem almost a paradise. When a river or lake can be had there is no end to the pleasure a country home can give.

Lake at Chismere.

It is not often that we can point our readers to illustrations where all these varied elements in landscape gardening can be happily combined. But we give to-day a series of sketches from the grounds of Chismere, on the Hudson, the country residence of Alex. Taylor, Esq. It is enough to bring tears to the eyes of the enthusiastic landscape gardener, that it is only at rare intervals in his life can he get a free use of the best rnaterial in his art to deal with; and envy to those who have money to spend on garden art that they can so seldom find such beauty spots on which the artists in gardening can show their skill.

Chismere on the Hudson: Residence of Alex. Taylor, Esq.