73 



tude, with a form generally devoid of that stiffness and round-topped outline it usu- 

 ally assumes under cultivation, or as seen in dressed and garden grounds. In old 

 trees situated in such wild scenery, the branches lose their formal appearance, and as 

 they become elongated and unable to sustain the annually increasing weight of the 

 foliage, gradually yield and take a partially pendant direction. Such are many of 

 those groups which claimed the approving notice of Gilpin, and which we have oft ad- 

 mired in the wild and enchanting scenery of the Scottish Highlands ; and such were 

 the old and venerable trees in our own romantic dene at Twizell, before the destruc- 

 tive storms of the last few winters overthrew and laid low the leafy honours of the 

 largest and finest among them. In addition to a light and graceful foliage, chaiming 

 us with its fresh and lively tint, the mountain ash, in spring, bears conspicuous and 

 sweet-smelling corymbs of cream-white flowers, and as the autumn advances, its ber- 

 ries, of the richest coral hue, give it a singularly pleasing and beautiful effect ; — 

 " How clung the Rowan to the rock 



And through the foliage showed his head 



With narrow leaves and benies red ; — " 

 and add to the contrast produced by its mixture with the deep green of the pine, and 

 the tufted and waving foliage of the spiry birch, two of the usual and most predomi- 

 nating trees in those localities in which it most delights. It is not, however, to be 

 despised, or its cultivation neglected, in scenery of a tamer and less stirring descrip- 

 tion, and, loaded with its rich and glowing fruit, it is one of the greatest ornaments to 

 the pleasure gardens of suburban villas." p. 77. 



The third part contains the English elm, the cork-barked elm, the 

 wych elm, the smooth-leaved wych elm, and the common walnut. A 

 figure of some noble specimen of each tree accompanies the descrip- 

 tion, which is always very complete, giving the history, appearance, 

 mode of culture, uses, and every other particular that can interest the 

 enquirer. 



The work abounds in useful hints to planters, and practical observa- 

 tions on the effect produced by the propinquity of other trees. Of the 

 ash the author observes it is best planted without admixture of other 

 trees, as from its mode of gi'owth it proves one of the worst of neigh- 

 bours in mixed plantations, particularly to the oak, which it lashes 

 and destroys by its heavy and easily swayed head. On the other hand 

 the cherry is strongly recommended to the planter's notice, both on 

 account of its value for underwood and as a timber tree, and particu- 

 larly as being — 



" one of the few trees that can be advantageously planted as a nurse or subsidiary 

 to the oak, as it is neither apt to ovftrtop or crush its neighbours by a rampant growth 

 or wide spreading head like the wych elm or the ash, or to hurt and injure them in 

 winds and stonns, as is constantly the case where trees with a more flexible or easily 

 agitated spray are introduced. It has also this further recommendation as a nurse to 

 the oak, that, although a quick growing plant while young, and fulfilling the duty of 

 a protector, it naturally yields to the tree it has fostered after the first twenty or thirty 

 years of its growth, and is afterwards content to vegetate beneath its shade, rendering 



