ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 79 



be observed as in the smaller groups, in order to prevent 

 them from growing up in heavy, clumpish forms. The 

 outline must be flowing, here projecting out into the grass, 

 there receding back into the plantation, in order to take 

 off all appearance of stiffness and regularity. Trees of 

 medium and smaller size should be so interspersed with 

 those of larger growth, as to break up all formal sweeps in 

 the line produced by the tops of their summits, and oc- 

 casionally, low trees should be planted on the outer edge 

 of the mass, to connect it with the humble verdure of the 

 surrounding sward. 



In many parts of the union, where new residences are 

 being formed, or where old ones are to be improved, the 

 grounds will often be found, partially, or to a considerable 

 extent, clothed with belts or masses of wood, either pre- 

 viously planted, or preserved from the woodman's axe. 

 How easily we may turn these to advantage in the natural 

 style of Landscape Gardening ; and by judicious trimming 

 when too thick, or additions when too much scattered, 

 elicit often the happiest effects, in a magical manner ! 



Where there are large masses of wood to regulate and 

 arrange, much skill, taste, and judgment, are requisite, to 

 enable the proprietors to preserve only what is really 

 beautiful and picturesque, and to remove all that is super- 

 fluous. Most of our native woods, too, have grown so 

 closely, and the trees are consequently so much drawn up, 

 that should the improver thin out any portion, at once, to 

 single trees, he will be greatly disappointed if he expects 

 them to stand long ; for the first severe autumnal gale 

 will almost certainly prostrate them. The only method, 

 therefore, is to allow them to remain in groups of con- 

 siderable size at first, and to thin them out as is finally 

 desired, when they have made stronger roots and' become 

 more inured to the influence of the sun and air. 



