153 



valuable, as well as to abridge Uic range of tlic planter's 

 operations. As the protecting properties, therefore, must of 

 course be more rare in all wooillands, than the non- 

 protecting, one of the most difficult tasks, which the planter 

 has to perform, is judiciously to husband the application of 

 the former. He should always bear in mind, that if he put 

 down but one tree in any given spot, in that tree the protect- 

 ing properties should exist in a greater degree, than if he put 

 down ten trees, and still more than if twenty were put down. 

 Even by means of the loosest dispositions, and the most 

 scattered groups of wood on an open surface, the force of 

 the wind is sensibly broken, and hindered from exerting its 

 entire violence on any individual tree. In creating real 

 landscape, climate is not always to be regarded absolutely, 

 but relatively. Absolute elevation may be considerable, but 

 relative mildness in the climate of a place may be as great, 

 from the number and richness of its woody accompaniments. 

 Hence, poverty of clothing on the surface of a park, if we 

 can command the subjects, should always be avoided ; for 

 that is as inconsistent with the richness of the picture, as 

 with the health and success of the trees of which it is com- 

 posed. 



As the modifying of the effect of heat and cold on woods, 

 and especially on parks and pleasure-grounds, is a subject not 

 generally understood, it may be worth while, in this place, to 

 say a few words respecting it, and also respecting the prin- 

 ciples on which it is founded, as being connected with the 

 subject immediately under discussion. Air, in several re- 

 spects, resembles, and is governed by the same laws as an- 

 other element, namely, water, although the effects of the 

 former are less cognizable by the eye. If you erect powerful 

 abutments on the banks of a river, you may forcibly turn the 

 stream from its course ; but it will break with tenfold vio 

 lence on the opposite side. In the same way, if by close and 



continued plantations you endeavour altogether to exclude 



20 



