STUDY XIII, 139 



to begin with applying the line to them ; for mod 

 of them proceed in a Terpentine diredion, which, 

 in many cafes, adds a full third to their length, be- 

 yond what is neceflary. I acknowledge, at the 

 fame time, that thefe finuofities are highly agree- 

 able, efpecially along the declivity of a hill, over 

 the ridge of a mountain, in rural fituations, or 

 through the midft of forefts. But they might be 

 rendered fufceptible of another kind of beauty, by 

 ikirting them with fruit-trees, which do not rife to 

 a great height, and which, flying off in perfpeftive, 

 would give a greater apparent extenfion to the 

 landfcape. Thefe trees would likewife afford a 

 ihade to travellers. The hufbandmen, I know, 

 allege, that the (hade, fo grateful to paffengers, is 

 injurious to their ftanding corn. They are un- 

 doubtedly in the right, as to feveral forts of grain ; 

 but there are fome which thrive better in places 

 fomewhnt fliaded than any where elfe, as may be 

 feen in the Pré Saint -Qervais. Befides, the farmer 

 would be amply indemnified by the wood of the 

 fruit-trees, and by the crops of fruit. The interefls 

 even of the hufbandman and of the traveller, might 

 farther be rendered compatible, by planting only 

 the roads which go from North to South, and the 

 South fide of thofe which run Eafh and Wefl, fo 

 that the Ihade of their trees fliould fcarcely fall on 

 jhe arable lands, 



It 



