The Rural Improver, Or, a Practical Treatise, on the Nature and Management of Such Rural Scenes and Objects; As Are Necessary to Promote the Comfort, (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1822 Excerpt: ... OF SHRUBBERIES AND PLEASURE GROUNDS. CHAPTER XVIII. SHRUBBERIES, or pleasure grounds, are clearly essential to every residence, that is either constantly or frequently inhabited by a family of respectability, as independant of their ornamental appearance, they are directly calculated to promote the health, comfort and amusement, of nearly all who are not either too young or too old, to take the advantage of air and exercise. Most people are ready to subscribe to the opinion, that excursions and amusements conduce, alike, to the health of the body and mind; and yet it may be presumed, that few are fully aware of their extensive usefulness. No one however, needs to remain ignorant of the subject, who will take the trouble to peruse the 115th, and 195th numbers of the spectator, which, I think, no considerate person, who feels disposed to be inactive, can possibly read without some degree of benefit. Undoubtedly, a shrubbery may be so arranged and B b furnished as to hold out more numerous inducements, to persons of delicate habits to take the benefit of air and exercise united, than any other description of amusement whatever. Indeed, whether we consider a well arranged shrubbery, as an useful or ornamental appendage to a respectable residence, we shall find no difficulty in discovering that they well deserve a greater portion both of skill and attention, than have usually been bestowed upon them. For the size of such grounds, no rule whatever can be given, further than that they should generally bear some proportion to the size and consequence of the place; nor can we come to much more certainty in regard to their situation, as the circumstances of the place, usually proves arbitrary in that respect. At the same time, however, we may say without much hazard ...