Book III. 



FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS. 



953 



6857. With respect to the extent, or area, oacupied by ornamental plantations, as such, 

 that need seldom be great. They are generally seen only in profile, and therefore a cir- 

 cuitous outline ( fig. 641. a.) may on most occasions be contrived to have the same effect 

 as planting a solid mass, which will occupy much more ground (6), show less exterior 



variety, and none within. The 

 ^£^~6^~^^— — --£ case is different, however, 

 %. %Jk i^- « § where the upper surface of a 

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from great elevations. 



plantation is to be met by the 

 eye, at a large angle, say up- 

 wards of 35°. In that case, 

 to produce a grand and im- 

 posing effect, real extent is 

 wanting. Examples occur in 

 planting the steep sides of high 

 hills, to be seen from below ; 

 or valleys or plains to be seen 

 It must be confessed that these are among 

 the grandest circumstances in which wood can be viewed ; pro- 

 files of outlines, varied both as respects the sky and the ground, are 

 beautiful and interesting ; and avenues and long rows of trees 

 form imposing perspectives ; but the side of a range of mountains 

 clothed with wood, seen at a certain distance, from a plain below or 

 opposite hills, is one of the most magnificent of rural prospects. 



6858. With respect to tlie disjmsition of trees in a plantation 

 where art is avowed or purposely displayed, the more regularly the 

 plants are placed the better is the end attained ; but, where na- 

 ture is to be imitated, irregularity will best sustain the character. 

 This should be studied in the larger as well as the smaller plantations, in the natural 

 stvle ; but more especially in detached groups, which operate so powerful an effect 

 643 ^ in laying out the grounds of a residence. The greatest beauty of a 



.-^ § q- group of trees as far as respects their stems, is in the varied direc- 

 tion these take as they grow into trees (Jig. 642.) ; but as that is 

 for all practical purposes beyond the influence of art, all we can do is to vary as much 

 as possible the ground-plans of groups, or the relative position which the stems have 

 to each other, where they spring from the earth. 

 This is considerable, even where a very few trees Ck^J 

 are used, and of which any person may convince 

 himself by placing a few dots on paper. Thus, two trees (Jig. 643.), or a tree and 

 shrub, which is the smallest group, may be placed in three different positions with re- 



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ference to a spectator in a fixed point : if he moves round them they will first vary in 

 form separately, and next (at b) unite in one or in two groups, according to the position 

 of the spectator. In like manner three trees (Jig. 644.) may be placed in four different 



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positions;" four trees may be placed in eight different positions (Jig. 645.); five 

 trees may be grouped in ten different ways' as to ground-plan (Jig. 646.); six may 

 be placed in twelve different positions (Jig. 647.) ; and so on. 



0l3 



644 



6859. In planting groups it is not meant to be asserted, that the ground-plan of each 

 should be studiously considered ; it will be sufficient if this is done in conspicuous situ- 

 ations, by the sides of walks and roads, and in such places as require for shelter or shade, 

 or to exclude some disagreeable object, a series of groups of nearly the same number of 

 trees. For the ordinary purposes of grouping, such as varying the apparent outline of 

 masses, connecting scattered objects, adding parts to such objects as are incomplete 

 wholes, &c, it will be sufficient to introduce large and small groups; never to put two 

 trees at exactly the same distance from each other ; three in the angles of an equilateral 

 triangle ; four in those of a square ; five in those of an octagon, and so on. 



