ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 59 



and unsightly appearance, as different as possible from the 

 easy flowing- outline of the group.* 



" Were it made the object of study," says Price, " how 

 to invent something, which, under the name of ornament, 

 <^ should disfigure a whole park, nothing could 

 '^53 be contrived to answer that purpose like a 

 ^^ clump. Natural groups being formed by 

 trees of different ages and sizes, and at different distances from 

 each other, often too by a mixture of those of the largest size 

 with others of inferior growth, are full of variety in their out- 

 lines ; and from the same causes, no two groups are exactly 

 alike. But clumps, from the trees being generally of the same 

 age and growth, from their being planted nearly at the same 

 distance, in a circular form, and from each tree being equally 

 pressed by his neighbour, are as like each other, as so many 

 puddings turned out of one common mould. Natural groups 

 are full of openings and hollows, of trees advancing before, or 

 retiring behind each other ; all productive of intricacy, of va- 

 riety, of deep shadows and brilliant lights : in walking about 

 them the form changes at every step; • new combinations, new 

 lights and shades, new inlets present themselves in succession. 

 But clumps, like compact bodies of soldiers, resist attacks from 

 all quarters; examine them in every point of view; walk 



* A friend of ours at Northampton, who is a most zealous planter, related to 

 us a diverting expedient to which he was obliged to resort, in order to ensure 

 irregular groups. Busily engaged in arranging plantations of young trees on his 

 lawn, he was hastily obliged to leave home, and entrust the planting of the groups 

 to some common garden labourers, whose ideas he could not raise to a point suffi- 

 ciently high to appreciate any beauty in plantations, unless made in regular forms 

 and straight hnes. "Being well aware," says our friend, " that if left to them- 

 selves I should find all my trees on my return in hollow squares or circular 

 clumps, I hastily tlireto up a peck of potatoes into the air, one by one, and directed 

 my workmen to plant a tree where every potatoe fell ! Thus, if I did not attain 

 the maximum of beauty in grouping, I at least had something not so offensive 

 as geometrical figures." 



