ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 109 



easily found in many parts of the Union where the crude 

 and formal taste of proprietors, by leading them to plant 

 long lines of Lombardy poplars, has had the effect of 

 destroying the beauty of many a fine prospect and 

 building. 



Conical or oblong-headed trees, when carefully employed, 

 are very effective for purposes of contrast, in conjunction 

 with horizontal lines of buildings such as we see in 

 Grecian or Italian architecture. Near such edifices, 

 sparingly introduced, and mingled in small proportion 

 with round-headed trees, they contrast advantageously 

 with the long cornices, flat roofs, and horizontal lines that 

 predominate in their exteriors. Lombardy poplars are 

 often thus introduced in pictures of Italian scenery, where 

 they sometimes break the formality of a long line of wall 

 in the happiest manner. Nevertheless, if they should be 

 indiscriminately employed, or even used in any con- 

 siderable portion in the decoration of the ground 

 immediately adjoining a building of any pretensions, 

 they would inevitably defeat this purpose, and by their 

 tall and formal growth diminish the apparent magnitude, 

 as well as the elegance of the house. 



Drooping trees, though often classed with oblong- 

 headed trees, differ from them in so many particulars, 

 that they deserve to be ranked under a separate head. 

 To this class belong the weeping willow, the weeping 

 birch, the drooping elm, etc. Their prominent charac- 

 teristics are gracefulness and elegance ; and we considei 

 them as unfit, therefore, to be employed to any extent 

 in scenes where it is desirable to keep up the expression 

 of a wild or highly picturesque character. As single 

 objects, or tastefully grouped in beautiful landscape, they 



