Wood and Plantations 57 



of groups, is, not to place them in any regular or arliiicial 

 manner, -- as one at each corner of a triangle, sqiuirr, 

 octagon, or other many-sided figure; but so to dispose them, 

 as that the whole may exhibit the variety, connection, and 

 intricacy seen in nature. ; The greatest beauty of a group 

 of trees," says London, "as far as respects their stems, is in 

 the varied direction these take as they grow into trees; 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 

 plan of groups, or the relative positions which the stems hu ve- 

 to each other where they spring from the earth. This is 

 considerable, even where a very few trees are used, of which 

 any person may convince himself by placing a few dots on 

 paper. 



In the composition of larger masses, similar rules must 

 be observed as in the smaller groups, in order to prevent 

 them from growing up in heavy, clumpish forms. The 

 outline must be flowing, here projecting out into the grass, 

 there receding back into the plantation, in order to take 

 off all appearance of stiffness and regularity. Trees of 

 medium and smaller size should be so interspersed with 

 those of larger growth, as to break up all formal sweeps in 

 the line produced by the tops of their summits, and occa- 

 sionally, low trees should be planted on the outer edge of 

 the mass, to connect it with the humble verdure of the 

 surrounding sward. 



In many parts of the union,* where new residences are 

 being formed, or where old ones are to be improved, the 

 grounds will often be found, partially, or to a considerable 

 extent, clothed with belts or masses of wood, either previ- 

 ously planted, or preserved from the woodman's axe. How 

 easily we may turn these to advantage in the natural style 

 of Landscape Gardening; and by judicious trimming when 

 too thick, or additions when too much scattered, elicit often 

 the happiest effects, in a magical manner! 



* It is an interesting side-light on polities and history that we have 



ceased altogether, in these times of world polities, to speak of "the 



Union," meaning the United Stales. This was once the most natural 

 and popular phrase. -- F. A. \V. 



