COUNTRY VILLAS. 175 



general, the greater number of species are found in alpine countries, on the 

 sheltered sides of hills, where the soil is exceedingly various, and also the 

 temperature, in consequence of the surface of the soil being exposed to the 

 sun's rays at very different angles ; as well as from other causes. The smallest 

 number will generally be found in plains where the soil is wholly alluvial, and, 

 perhaps, occasionally overflowed by a river ; or in wastes, where the soil is 

 a drifting sand. Even in the most favourable situations for a considerable 

 number of species, that number, in a state of nature, and without the care of 

 man, can never be great; because the stronger species, whether these acquire 

 their strength from their nature, or from being placed in more favourable 

 circumstances than other individuals of the same species, will soon weaken or 

 destroy the others. Hence it is, that, in a natural forest, the number of kinds 

 of trees, shrubs, and other plants, present in any one place, is comparatively 

 few. These few will generally be found to consist of a prevailing species of 

 tree, with perhaps one, two, or three, in a hundred, of some other kind of tree; 

 a prevailing kind of shrub, with some subordinate undergrowths ; and as 

 generally, a prevailing kind of flowering herbaceous plant, fern, grass, moss, 

 or even fungus or lichen. It is to be remarked of this mode in which Nature 

 distributes her plants, that it is much more simple, and at the same time 

 better calculated to be productive of variety, than the mode which we have 

 described as being adopted by gardeners. In consequence of one kind of 

 tree, shrub, plant, &c., always prevailing in one place, the aspect and interest 

 of that place must necessarily be different from another where the species 

 which prevail are different. In traversing a natural forest, with a view to 

 studying the different kinds of trees and shrubs produced in difl'erent locahties 

 within it, we shall find the following causes are principally in operation : — 

 1. Difference in the nature of the soil and the subsoil or rocks. 2. Difference 

 in the capacity of the soil for retaining water. 3. Inclination of the surface, 

 by which the water or rains is more or less thrown off. 4. The aspect of the 

 surface, from which it is more or less heated, according to the direct or indi- 

 rect influence on it of the sun. 5. The elevation of the surface above the level 

 of the sea. Hence, the greatest variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers, in any 

 one country, will be found around the base and on the sides of its highest 

 mountains. 



273. Improved mode of planting the pleasure grounds of country villas. — 

 Having seen the mode of distributing trees and plants adopted by the 

 majority of gardeners, in the present and in former times, and their natural 

 distribution in this country, and in every other, it may now be asked what 

 mode we recommend to be adopted. To which we answer, briefly, an 

 improvement on the present system, with some innovations, for which a 

 sufficient reason will be given. Improvements in gardening, as in every 

 other art, can only be effected by degrees ; and it rarely happens that any 

 individual can do more than make a slight advance before bis contempo- 

 raries. The principles on which we propose to distribute trees, shrubs, and 

 flowers, in parks and pleasure-grounds, are the following : — 



I. Trees and Shrubs. — Choice of KincU. 



1. We would introduce generally in every place, whether large or small, as many different 



species and varieties as would thrive in it ; in small places, having no more than a single 



plant of each species or variety ; but, in larger ones, introducing duplicates, triplicates, 



or a greater number, according to the extent of the place, but keeping each kind by itself. 



