( 48 ) 



however it's character, which will be feen 

 beft by comparing it with the elm. The elm 

 forms a rounder -, the beech a more pointed 

 foliage. But the former is always in harmony 

 with itfelf. 



On the whole, the .mafly, full-grown, 

 luxuriant beech is rather a difplealing tree. 

 It is made up of littlenefs ; feldom exhibiting 

 thofe tufted cups, or hollow dark recefTes, 

 which diipart the feveral grand branches of 

 the more beautiful kinds of trees. Sometimes 

 however, we fee in beeches of happy com- 

 pofition the foliage falling in large flakes, or 

 layers, between which the ihadows have a 

 forcible effeft, when the tree is ftrongly il- 

 lumined. 



Contrary to the general nature of trees, the 

 beech is moft pleafing in it's juvenile ftate ; as 

 it has not yet acquired that heavinefs, which 

 is it's moft faulty diftinftion. A light, airy, 

 young beech, with it's fpiry branches, hang- 

 ing, as I have juft defcribed them in eafy 

 forms, is often beautiful. I have feen alfo 

 the foreft-beech, in a dry, hungry foil, pre- 

 ferve the lightnefs of youth, in the maturity 

 of age. 



After 



