114 The Art of Landscape Gardening 



lingford, the effect of these plantations will be seen from 

 thence ; and I have availed myself, as much as possible, 

 of those examples which, from their proximity to a public 

 road, are most likely to be generally observed. 



Ifthe more common appearances in nature were objects 

 of our imitation we should certainly plant the valleys and 

 not the hills, since nature generally adopts this rule in 

 her spontaneous plantations ; but it is " la belle nature," 

 or those occasional effects of extraordinary beauty, which 

 nature furnishes as models to the landscape gardener. 

 And although a wood on the summit of a bleak hill may 

 not be soprofitable, or growso fast, as one in the sheltered 

 valley, yet its advantages will be strongly felt on the 

 surrounding soil. The verdure will be improved when 

 defended from winds and fertilised by the successive fall 

 of leaves, whilst the cattle will more readily frequent the 

 hills when they are sheltered and protected by sufficient 

 screens of plantations.^^ 



In recommending that the hills should be planted, 

 I do not mean that the summits should be covered by 

 a patch or clump; the woods of the valleys should, on 

 the contrary, seem to climb the hills by such connecting 

 lines as may neither appear meagre nor artificial, but, 

 following the natural shapes of the ground, produce 

 an apparent continuity of wood falling down the hills in 

 various directions. 



" Rich the robe. 

 And ample let it flow, that Nature wears 

 On her thron'd eminence ! where'er she takes 

 Her horizontal march, pursue her step 

 With sweeping train of forest ; hill to hill 

 Unite with prodigality of shade." 



Mason. 



During the first few years of large plantations in 

 a naked country, the outline, however graceful, will ap- 



