LANDSCAPE AND ECONOMIC PLANTING. 329 



intervening glades being seen at a distance. The planting of belts 

 is, and lias been, very common in home parks, and no doubt there 

 are cases in which they ai-e essential ; but as a rule they should 

 be avoided for several reasons — (1.) because they are unprofitable ; 

 (2.) they are too formal ; (3.) they are liable to convey the idea of 

 being closed in; and (4.) they in many cases obstruct views of 

 distant objects of interest which always ought to be conserved. 

 Except therefore it may be for shelter, or to shut out or cover 

 up some unsightly object, belts should not be adopted in park 

 planting. 



This is a very cursory outline of a few of the different points 

 to be observed in laying out plantations in a demesne or home 

 park. There are, however, many other little details which natur- 

 ally reveal themselves in order to satisfy taste and local cii'cuui- 

 stances, but which could only be fully described on a given 

 subject being presented to view, accompanied with a series of 

 detailed drawings to illustrate the case. Our end being to lay 

 down general principles rather than elaborated details, we allow 

 each individual case to be treated as may be found necessary in 

 accordance with these principles. 



2. The distribution of Trees over a large area of country, with 

 the view to Landscape Effect and General Utility. 



We now approach the second head, and assume that the 

 question is — the planting, or distribution of plantations, in a 

 wide district, with the view to improve the landscape, as well as 

 for general utility. 



It may be said that Nature is here the true preceptor to follow, 

 because the object being more general and less of an artificial 

 character, the adoption of Nature as the sole guide is the proper 

 course. Now we are by no means prepared to admit this without 

 a considerable qualification. In laying out a district for such a 

 purpose as indicated, we must always bear in mind that, extended 

 though the area may be as compared with the ornamenting of a 

 demesne or home park, even here it is circumscribed as compared 

 to Nature in its widest acceptation — in other words, we wish to 

 make a complete picture of what is necessarily only a portion of 

 the one great picture. Again, we must rectify and rearrange the 

 accidents before referred to, with the view of bringing out true 



