On pruning Forest Trees. SOS 



cottages, imitated from a diorama some time exhibited in 

 Paris [and also in London], and it was painted by an Am- 

 sterdam artist of merit. I was asked, whether this had not 

 a good effect with the orange trees, and handsome Cape and 

 Chinese plants in the foregronnd ; for, you must know, Sir, 

 we are very much in the habit of painting landscapes as ter- 

 minations to walks and vistas, both in the open air and in 

 green-houses. " The taste is vulgar," said I; " and fit only 

 for the garden of a guinguette." Just as these words escaped 

 my lips, the proprietor came up. " And why may not a 

 painted picture form a termination to a natural view, when 

 there is nothing better ? " asked he. " I see no reason why 

 it may not," said I, " except that I consider it in very bad 

 taste." " Why so ? " " Because the two objects are incon- 

 gruous, and the first principle in any composition is unity of 

 expression." " And yet we see landscapes of this sort in 



Baron H 's gardens." " I cannot help that," said I : 



" the force of my reason remains. Do you find them in 

 England or France?" continued I. "Yes, in M. Boursault's 

 garden." This is true, as you probably know; for M. Bour- 

 sault's garden is bounded on one side by the gable ends of 

 high houses, and he has obtained permission to paint trees on 

 these, to render them less unsightly. I should have painted 

 weather stains only, had I been M. Boursault; but, fortunately 

 for my opponent and his arguments, M. Boursault preferred 

 trees. I thought it prudent to yield quietly, but, at the same 

 time, without compromising my opinion ; and I found I gained 

 by this, for my patron soon after acknowledged that he had 

 never seen painted landscapes in any English garden but 

 that of Vauxhall. " What would you recommend for a ter- 

 mination ?" he enquired. " Cover it with orange trees, trained 

 on a trellis," said I; "or, if you will lengthen your perspec- 

 tive, let the end be entirely of looking-glasses, formed into 

 doors and windows." " A capital idea ! " said he ; " it shall 

 be done; but, in the mean time, let us dine, and I will show 

 you the remainder of my improvements afterwards." 



H. K. K. 

 Ghent, Sept. 1831. 



Art. IX. On pruning Forest Trees. (From " Essays on Vege- 

 table Physiology," preparing for the Press.) By J. Main, A.L.S. 



. The pruner should be a good vegetable physiologist ; for 

 unless he has an intimate knowledge of the components of the 



