15 



ed by underwood, originating seeds sown by the 

 birds, would have become lank and harmless to the 

 growth of the trees ; and in this way too they would 

 have acquired the outline and aspect of natural 

 woods, and by a judicious pruning of their tops, 

 would have grown speedily and freely in their youth, 

 while in their age they attained the greatest dimen- 

 sions that the soil and climate in which they were 

 planted admitted. It is quite remarkable, how in 

 consequence of an abundant supply of underwood 

 along the north belt of Lord Morton's park, at Dal- 

 mahoy, from Burnwynd, eastward to Addiston, the 

 trees that suit the soil are evidently already secure 

 of attaining the first magnitude, though planted only 

 about the same time with Duddingstone belts, and 

 certainly not favoured by superior advantages of soil 

 or climate. One would still however cherish a hope, 

 that in consequence of the natural longevity of the 

 oak, and the proportional duration of healthful roots 

 and youthful vigour that belong to it, underwood 

 and especially evergreens, such as silver firs, hollies, 

 and lauro-cerasus, might still be successfully employ- 

 ed to renew the vigour of such plantations ; care 

 being always taken to remove trees of inferior sorts 

 when they appear to encroach upon the oaks, and 

 discourage their growth. But unfortunately such 

 mistakes are not confined to Duddingstone, where 

 the absence of the noble proprietor may account for 

 the maltreatment of the park - 9 for one often sees 

 similar mistakes elsewhere committed, and under- 

 wood and lateral branches carefully cleared away 

 from plantations, and even from belts, under the 

 notion that it robs the trees of the larger proportion 

 of nourishment they would otherwise receive. No- 



