416 



woods ; and from the shelter and warmth produced by such a mass of 

 plantation, the luxuriance of these plants seemed wonderful, the shoots 

 extending, in some instances of the maple, elm, and birdscherry, and 

 even of the oak, to three and four feet in length, and upwards. 



This plantation, which has all the natural luxuriance and wild richness 

 of a natural copse, intermingled with grove or standard trees, had been 

 foi-med only four years ; and we are confident, that no less a space than 

 from five-and-twenty to forty years, according to situation and climate, 

 could have produced the same effect, by the usual process of planting 

 and thinning out. 



We proceeded next to examine other plantations or masses of wood, 

 consisting of half an acre, a quarter of an acre, and less, in which grove 

 and underwood are massed up together, in the same manner. We saw, 

 at some distance, an island in the lake, which is wooded in this way. 

 The ends of the bridge, which is thrown over the water, are likewise 

 so wooded. Also sundry promontories or headlands, in order to break 

 the water into parts, and give immediate effect to some prominent 

 scenery ; an object which they accomplish in a style very picturesque 

 and pleasing. 



We will now proceed to the Third head of our investigation, namely, 

 to ascertain in how far the art is applicable to general purposes of utility 

 or ornament. 



It must be acknowledged, that the art of removing large-sized wood 

 has hitherto been very limited in its application. The planting of a few 

 pollarded, or at least mutilated trees, in a gentleman's lawn or pleasure- 

 grounds, is all that it usually aspires to. In old books on planting, we 

 read of princes and nobles, who removed individual trees, which it re- 

 quired twelve oxen to draw, and the most powerful machinery to lift or 

 plant. But these were exertions of mere physical force, unaccompanied 

 with skill or science. It seems to have been reserved for the present 

 day, to establish the art upon fixed principles, and to turn it to any thing 

 like practical utility. 



From what has been stated above, it will appear to the society that, 

 on Sir Henry Steuart's system, a lawn may, within a few years, be 

 covered with single trees, and scattered groups of every description ; 

 and further, that inclosed masses of wood to any extent, and of such 

 magnitude may be easily introduced into it, as will produce immediate 

 effect, whether to persons on foot, or on horseback, and even from the 

 first and second floors of an ordinary mansion house. For agricultural 

 purposes, likewise, the art may prove eminently useful, in sheltering 



