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of wood would be perhaps more characteristic and pleasing 

 to some persons, than if taller trees had been used by him 

 in planting it. It is true, that trees of a certain height, say 

 from thirty to five-and-tliirty feet and upwards, have a fine 

 effect in catching the horizon from a sloping bank, and show- 

 ing the scenery of the foreground, and possibly of the middle 

 distance, under their spreading branches : also, they are pe- 

 culiarly useful, in masking or relieving such objects, on the 

 opposite side of a river, as we cannot command, and which, 

 for that reason, it is desirable to throw into the back ground 

 of the picture. But on such subjects, as on most others 

 connected with taste in the disposition of wood, great diver- 

 sity of opinion must prevail ; and that mode of arrangement 

 or execution will generally seem the handsomest, in which 

 the genius of the place is best copsulted, and where the most 

 luxuriant growths, and most careless dispositions of wood 

 are produced. The greatest triumphs of art must alwa)'^s be 

 those, in which, in rivalling nature, she most completely 

 effects her own concealment. 



There is at Abbotsford a new, as well as ingenious con 

 trivance for defending underwood from the mouths of sheep, 

 which, as it is so difficult at all times, and in this instance 

 seems peculiar to Sir Walter himself, it may be worth while 

 to mention. " Being in haste (says he) with the bushes set 

 out on the sheep-ground, and really very indifferent whether 

 they all grew or not, I had manj'- of them stuck into the 

 middle of whin-bushes, and there the sheep have done them 

 no visible harm." Of the good effect of furze in adding 

 wildness and variety to scenery, no one will entertain a 

 doubt ; and those, who have it in abundance in their parks, 

 may verify the efficiency of Sir Walter's method. As to the 

 expense of the bush-planting, as neither manure nor prepa- 

 ration of the soil was necessary, from the fine mould always 

 to be found under the shade of furze ; and moreover, as the 

 plants and stools were obtained from the adjoining planta- 



