SPRAY. 149 



has nothing squalid in it, and yet hangs in loose 

 and easy curls.' Here, as in Gilpin's general 

 description of the Beech, creeps in his prejudice 

 for less than such we cannot, as we have already 

 said, regard it against the Beech. We hold an 

 opinion wholly different, both as regards the tree 

 and its spray. 



Very distinct and peculiar in its character is 

 the spray of the ' Venus of the Woods.' It is 

 the graceful aspect of the tree in its full foliage 

 that has especially won the admiration of the 

 poets, though, as we have previously in this volume 

 shown, it is also graceful in its Winter undress ; 

 and its spray, too, is interesting and beautiful. 

 More stout and rigid in aspect than that of many 

 trees, it may not so easily win approval of those 

 who admire graceful curves ; and the prominence 

 of its big buds may also similarly take from its 

 appreciation. But surely the skin of -a * Venus ' 

 is an important element of beauty, and the ashen- 

 grey skin of the Ash is very beautiful, and there 

 is a rich rotundity in what may be called its 

 * mouldings,' which must please the * picturesque 

 eye.' Gilpin, in comparing the spray of the Ash 



