confess, that that design creates an idea in my
mind greater than I am well able to express." In his chapter of "Woods
and Groves," he enforces "a particular regard to large old oaks, beech,
and such like trees; in which case, one would as soon fire one's house,
as cut them down, since it is the work of so many years, I may say ages,
to rear them; those ancient trees which our forefathers had all along
preserved with much care."[41] In some of the romantic embellishments
which he proposed in the midst of a grove, or coppice, he hints at
having "little gardens, with caves, little natural cascades and grotts
of water, with seats, and arbors of honeysuckles and jessamine, and, in
short, with all the varieties that nature and art can furnish." He
advises "little walks and paths running through such pastures as adjoin
the gardens, passing through little paddocks, and corn fields, sometimes
through wild coppices, and gardens, and sometimes by purling brooks, and
streams; places that are set off not by _nice art_, but by luxury of
nature." And again, "these hedge-rows mixed with primroses, violets, and
such natural sweet and pleasant flowers; the walks that thus lead
through them, will afford as much pleasure, nay, more so, than the
largest walk in the most magnificent and elaborate fine garden."[42] He
concludes his interesting Chapter of Woods and Coppices, with these
lines of Tickell:--

Sweet solitude! when life's gay hours are past,
Howe'er we range, in thee we fix at last:
Tost thro' tempestuous seas, the voyage o'er,
Pale we look back, and bless the friendly shore.
Our own strict judges, our past life we scan,
And ask if glory have enlarg'd the span.
If bright the prospect, we the grave defy,
Trust future ages, and contented die.

The following appear to have been his works:--

1. The Nobleman, Gentleman, and Gardener's Recreation; or an
Introduction to Gardening, Planting, Agriculture, and the other
Business and Pleasures of a Country Life. By Stephen Switzer; 1715,
8vo. Another edition in 1717, 8vo. The year afterwards, it was
published with the following title:--

2. Icknographia Rustica; or, the Nobleman, Gentleman, and
Gardener's Recreation: containing Directions for the general
Distribution of a Country Seat into rural and extensive Gardens,
Parks, Paddocks, &c.; and a General System of Agriculture;
illustrated by a great variety of Co