196 ON STYLE AND EXPRESSION 



ponderous and dignified-looking tree, the Araucarla inibricata; 

 the Silver Fir, and indeed several Conifers belong here, which 

 altogether is a most important class, especially witli reference to 

 architectural lines and forms. 



Weeping Kinds. — First the old Salix Babylonica, or Weeping 

 Willow, which may stand as the type of this class of trees ; 

 albeit we have such graceful things as the Cupressiis funebris, 

 the Deodar, the Hemlock Spruce, &c. ; even the Birch in some 

 of its best humours swells the list, which, if space would permit, 

 might be enlarged with many a goodly candidate. 



Who would refuse the Deodar and the Weeping Willow a 

 place contiguous to water scenery ? The latter is so much at 

 home in such a situation, that an ornamental piece of water in 

 a pleasure ground is scarcely considered complete without it. 

 Here previous associations and individual aptitude combine to 

 press this time-honoured tree on the notice of all lovers of the 

 graceful. 



Having thus given a hasty sketch of character in trees, a 

 subject which, if done justice to, would fill a book, I may now be 

 permitted to point to a few trees or shrubs, which, although 

 possessing much character, may not fall in strictly with any of 

 the classes here assumed. 



Conifers in general : it is almost superfluous to remark that 

 they possess capabilities of giving quite a new tone to British 

 scenery ; not that they will by any means cause us to part with 

 our majestic Oaks, our Beeches, &c. On the contrary, they will 

 add power to existing groups of deciduous timber trees, by 

 depth of contrast ; and combine as it were the freshness of spring 

 with the gloom of winter. 



Amongst these the Deodar seems by general consent to 

 occupy the very first place, based upon a double consideration ; 

 its exceeding great beauty as a tree, and the well known durable 

 character of its timber. Another capital feature belongs to it, 

 the power of its leader to resist frost or cutting winds. No 

 person on first observing its graceful and delicate-looking leader, 

 growing so late in the autumn, could suppose that it could 

 remain unscathed through a severe winter. It is moreover the 

 most manageable Fir I have seen, as to habit ; it would be easy 

 to keep it in a dwarf state for many years. It is thus adapted 

 to rock work or other rustic affairs, where pendent forms are 

 employed. Next the regal-looking Araucaria — a tree for 

 palaces. Cryptomeria, too, and the Douglas Pine, and then 

 the genera Cephalotaxus, Libocedrus, Juniperus, Taxodium, Cu- 

 pressus, &c. What a rich group ! Any painter who, by antici- 

 pation, could produce a landscape on canvas, such as will be 

 obtained in Britain in some twenty or thirty years hence by the 



