ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 127 



almost sameness, in the different kinds of trees vvhicl: 

 may properly be called spiry-topped. 



From their sameness of form and surface this class 

 of trees, when planted in large tracts or masses, gives 

 much less pleasure than round-headed trees ; and the eye 

 is soon wearied with the monotony of appearance 

 presented by long rows, groups, or masses, of the same 

 form, outline, and appearance ; to say nothing of the effect 

 of the uniform dark color, unrelieved by the warmer tints 

 of deciduous trees. Any one can bear testimony to this, 

 who has travelled through a pine, hemlock, or fir forest, 

 where he could not fail to be struck with its gloom, 

 tediousness, and monotony, especially when contrasted 

 with the variety and beauty in a natural wood of 

 deciduous, round-headed trees. 



Although spiry-topped trees in large masses cannot be 

 generally admired for ornamental plantations, yet they 

 have a character of their own, which is very striking and 

 peculiar, and we may add, in a high degree valuable to 

 the Landscape Gardener. Their general expression when 

 single or scattered is extremely spirited, wild, and 

 picturesque ; and when judiciously introduced into 

 artificial scenery, they produce the most charming and 

 unique effects. " The situations where they have most 

 effect is among rocks and in very irregular surfaces, and 

 especially on the steep sides of high mountains, where their 

 forms and the direction of their growth seem to harmonize 

 with the pointed rocky summits." Fir and pine forests are 

 extremely dull and monotonous in sandy plains and 

 smooth surfaces (as in the pine barrens of the southern 

 states) ; but among the broken rocks, craggy precif 'ces, 



