106 PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



Many species of firs require to be planted thickly at 

 first, in order to prevent them from forming bushy trees 

 when young, and for the purpose of throwing the main 

 growth of the tree into the leading stem ; but in orna- 

 mental plantations they should be thinned out at an 

 earlier period, and afterwards to a greater extent than 

 is necessary in woods grown simply for the sake of 

 timber. They will thus have room to develope them- 

 selves into their natural forms, instead of being drawn 

 up into bare poles with small tufted heads. On level or 

 slightly-inclined surfaces, frequent openings or glades 

 should be formed through them, in order to relieve the 

 heavy effect which they would otherwise have. 



Intermingling of the different Fonns and Colours. — In 

 the actual practice of planting, the various kinds of trees 

 are generally mingled together; and though this is 

 often done with little taste and on no fixed principles, it 

 shows that in the common apprehensions of men the 

 beauty of woodland scenery consists very much in the 

 contrast and combination of its diversified materials. It 

 will readily be conceived that no precise general rules 

 can be laid down on this subject. Much must be left 

 to the taste of the proprietor and designer. Some par- 

 ticular effects, however, may be mentioned as attainable 

 by the use of certain trees. For example, a mass of 

 laurels and hollies in the pleasure-ground may be im- 

 proved both in dignity and expression by having a few 

 of the finer species of firs introduced into its centre. 

 And in the park a plantation of deciduous trees may 

 have its sky-line elevated at certain points by groups of 

 black Italian poplar, a tree which in ordinary ground 

 speedily takes the lead of aU others, and keeps it for 

 many years. 



