OBSERVATIONS 



ON 



FOREST SCENERY. 



BOOK I. 

 SECTION I. 



is no exaggerated praife to call a tree the 

 grandeft, and moft beautiful of all the pro- 

 ductions of the earth. In the former of thefe 

 epithets nothing contends with it ; for we con- 

 fider rocks and mountains, as part of the earth 

 itfelf. And though among inferior plants, 

 fhrubs, and flowers, there is great beauty ; 

 yet when we confider, that thefe minuter pro- 

 ductions are chiefly beautiful as individuals ; 

 and are not adapted to form the arrangement 

 of compofition in landfcape j nor to receive the 

 ejfefts of light and Jhade ; they muft give place 

 in point of beauty otpiflurefque beauty at leaft, 

 which we are here confidering to the form 

 and foliage, and ramification of the tree. Thus 

 VOL. i. B the 



