81 



part, a half, and sometimes the whole of the top, erroneously 

 conceiving, thai both can be managed on the same princi- 

 ples.* They (rust imphcitly to the plastic powers of the 

 trees, to replace these amputations with fresh wood, and to 

 recover themselves from these severities : but they seem en- 

 tirely to overlook two main objections, that can never be 

 obviated ; first, the length of time which the trees require to 

 recover from any considerable curtailment of their heads, 

 and the deaths and failures that occur, when they do not 

 recover at all ; and secondly, the complete loss of distinctive 

 and peculiar character which ensues, by reducing the heads 

 of the most different trees to one monotonous and formal 

 figure. 



In respect to the first objection, it is not easy to speak to 

 it with perfect accuracy. In the superior climates of Eng- 

 land, that is, the districts south of Yorkshire, and particularly 

 the Devonshire, Dorsetshire, and Hampshire coasts, perhaps 

 the candid planter will admit, that fifteen years at least 

 would be necessary, to recover any great bulk of top, after 

 severe mutilation. In the districts on the parallel of York- 

 shire, and in the best Scotch climates, twenty and five-and- 

 twenty would scarcely be adequate ; and, in many parts of 

 Scotland, they would never recover at all. 



As to the second, and far more important objection, that 

 their distinctive character as trees would be obliterated. Na- 

 ture has given to different woody plants quite different and 

 opposite styles of ramification of top. Some, such as the 

 lime and the horse-chestnut, are heavy and formal ; while 

 the oak, the chestnut, and the elm are far more various 

 and picturesque, and are finely calculated to receive great 

 masses of light. But if these striking characteristics of the 

 latter be destroyed by the axe, by what means shall they 

 regain their former figure ? To the painter, not less than 



* Note XV. 

 11 



