Walks, seats, bridges, and other rustic buildings; which facilitate the means of inspection and enjoyment. Opening up beautiful views, and excluding offensive or uninteresting objects; which heighten enjoyment. Thinning out unhealthy or unsightly undergrowths and ill-shaped trees, and forming glades of smooth turf; which will produce spots contrasting well with places where the under-growth is vigorous and dense. Removing the undergrowths altogether, and leaving only the timber trees, smoothing the surface below so as to admit of its being mown; which will change a wood to a grove. Where the natural wood is entirely coppice, allowing some of the plants here and there to assume the character of trees, taking care not to cut these down when the coppice is being felled; which will change the coppice into a wood. Rocks, where they occur, may be improved by removing soil or bushes so as to display them more fully or to greater advantage; or, if every part of the rock be already shown in such a manner as to give the idea that only a portion of rock exists, then a part may be concealed by ground or bushes so as to give the idea of continuation. The great art in this case is to indicate stratification, for, unless this be done, rock-work, whether natural or artificial, may be mistaken for a part of an old wall, or, more probably, for a heap of land stones. Waterfalls, and rills expanded into pools, may be shown more fully, or increased or diminished, on the same general principle as rocks; but it is absolutely necessary that whoever attempts this kind of improvement should have the eye of an artist. Indeed, this remark will apply with almost equal force in the case of improving rocks. One of the finest features in the grounds at Corehouse is Corra burn, situated in an improved glen with a succession of waterfalls; the steep banks richly clothed with rhododendrons and other evergreens alternating with smooth lawn, and the whole overhung with lofty spreading oaks and Scotch elms.
