Book III. 



FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS. 



957 



*W 



656 



in the modern belt, the recurrence and monotony of the same mixture of trees of all the different kinds, 

 through a long drive, make it the more tedious in proportion as it is long. In part of the drive at 

 Woburn, in which evergreens alone prevail, which is a circumstance of grandeur, of variety, of 

 novelty, and, I may add, of winter comfort, that I never saw adopted in any other place on so magni- 

 ficent a'scale, the contrast of passing from a wood of deciduous trees to a wood of evergreens must be 

 felt by the most heedless observer ; and the same sort of pleasure, though in a weaker degree, would be 

 felt in the course of a drive, if the trees of different kinds were collected in small groups or masses by 

 themselves, instead of being blended indiscriminately." {Inquiry into Changes of Taste, &c. p. 33.) 



6871. Sir W. Chambers and Price agree in recommending the imitation of natural forests in the ar- 

 rangement of the species. In these nature disseminates her plants by scattering their seeds, and the off- 

 spring rise round the parent in masses or breadths, depending on a variety of circumstances, but chiefly on 

 the facility which these seeds afford for being carried to a distance by the wind, the rain, and by birds or 

 other animals. So disseminated they spring up, different sorts together, affected by various circumstances 

 of soil and situation ; and arrive at maturity, contending with other plants and trees, and with the brows- 

 ing of animals. At last, that species which had enjoyed a maximum of natural advantages is found to 

 prevail as far as this maximum extended, stretching along in masses and angular portions of surface, till 

 circumstances changing in favor of some other species, that takes the prevalence in its turn. In this way it 

 will generally be found, that the number of species, and the extent and style of the masses in which they 

 prevail, bears a strict analogy to the changes of soil and surface ; and this hplds good, not only with respect 

 to trees and shrubs, but to plants, grasses, and even the mossy tribe. 



6872. The most perfect arrangement of species in regard to va- 

 riety would be to employ every kind of tree and shrub that will grow 

 freely in the open air, and arrange them according to the natural 

 system. We have already suggested (6144.) that a residence might be 

 wooded in this way, so as in the smallest extent to obtain a maxi- 

 mum of variety and beauty. In most cases, where grouping, or any 

 systematic plan of arranging the species is to be adopted, the form of 

 the groups (fig. 656. a, b, c, d, c) should be marked on the plan of 

 the plantation, and the kinds for each form written down in a cor- 

 responding list ; the small detached masses intended as thickets (/) 

 should be similarly marked, the situation of groups indicated either 

 by letters simply (g), or bv figures (6, 2, 3) referring to a list of kinds ; 

 and where shrubs are to"be introduced in the groups, two figures may 

 be used (-f-, -i), one of which shall indicate the kind of tree, and 

 the other the species of low growth or shrub. This mode we have al- 

 ways adopted in furnishing plans for ornamental planting, and find 

 it enables gardeners to execute them with perfect accuracy. 



6873. The size of the plants used in ornamental planting should be' 

 as great as the soil and situation will admit, for two reasons : first, because an early effect is always de- 

 sirable ; and secondly, because in planting detached groups, large and small plants, and a varied inclin- 

 ation of their stem (fig. 642.) may be introduced in imitation of nature. Small groups on pastured lands, 

 indeed, cannot be formed without trees whose stems are sufficiently high to raise their heads out of the 

 reach of cattle, without enclosing so considerable a space round every tree as to render this mode both te. 

 diotis, unsightly, and expensive. 



• 6874. Fences. Masses, in the ancient style of planting, were generally surrounded by walls or other 

 durable fences. Here the barrier was considered as an object or permanent part of the scene, and for 

 that reason was executed substantially, and even ornamentally. They were generally walls substantially 

 coped, and furnished with handsomegates and piers. The rows of avenues and small clumps, or platoons 

 intended to be finally thrown open, were enclosed by the most convenient temporary fence. 



6875. In planting in the natural style, a regular fence either of verdant or masonic materials, can never 

 be the final part of perfect imitation, since no such thing is to be found in nature. But in planting in 

 farm-lands, or for the purpose of improving the general scenery, some permanent fence is requisite ; and 

 all that can be said is, that which promises in the end to be the most efficient and economical, will almost 

 always be the best. The hedge, sunk fence, common wall, and wide water-course where it will be con- 

 stantly nearly full of water, here present themselves as the most general kinds. Any fence, however, of 

 which a large excavation, without water, forms a part, as the sunk fence, should be used with great cau- 

 tion ; as there are none of this class but what look ill from at least one point of view, that is, when seen 

 lengthways. 



6876. In planting to form a park or residence, with the exception of the boundary fence, and that which 

 separates the lawn or mown surface from the grazed scenery, no permanent barrier of a formal nature 

 should ever be admitted. In very bleak situations, walls or mounds of earth, however unsightly, may be 

 necessary for a time to shelter and draw up the plants ; but the final removal of these and all fences in 

 parks, should be looked to as certain. Light palings, the rails coated over with tar or pyrolignous acid, 

 and the posts charred by burning at the lower end, to render them durable, may be used in the greater 

 number of cases ; and in many, where the plants are larger, and the soil and other circumstances favor- 

 able to their growth, hurdles or other moveable rails or palings may be used. " The present improved 

 state of the manufacture of iron offers a very desirable accommodation in this respect, affording the best 

 guards for single plants and groups ; and iron hurdles, or lines of cast-iron standards and half-inch wires, 

 as rails for masses, have a light and temporary appearance, highly congenial to the idea of their speedy 

 removal. The lines of the fences conforming to the irregular shapes of the masses will not be disagree- 

 able to the eye, if those of the latter are arranged with any regard to apparent connection ; for any ob- 

 jects, whether lines or forms, however deficient in beauty of themselves, acquire a degree of interest, and 

 even character, when connected and arranged in such a way as to form a whole. When a plantation is 

 finally to be composed both of trees and undergrowths, thorns, sloes, hollies, berberries, and briars, may, 

 in many cases prevail in the margin ; which, when the fence is removed, will form a picturesque phalanx, 

 and protect the whole. Partial inioads, formed by cattle, will only heighten the variety and intricacy of 

 such masses." (Edin. Encyc. art. Landscape Gardening.) In this way, as Price observes (Essays, vol. i.), 

 the planter may plant as thick as he chooses, and never think of thinning or future management, only 

 taking care to introduce no more trees than what he intends to remain finally as timber. The great ma- 

 jority of the plants being shrubs will soon be overtopped by the timber-trees, which, having abundance 

 of head-room, will grow up in free and unconstrained shapes. The future care of plantations is so ge- 

 nerally neglected, that this suggestion, under certain circumstances, well merits adoption ; though it cer- 

 tainly can have no pretension to be called a scientific or profitable mode of planting. It is what it pre- 

 tends to be, a picturesque mode. 



