46 Notes and Gleanings. 



or disagreeable objects, or it maybe by themselves to create objects of beauty in 

 a view, that, without them, would be repulsive. In English scenery, the fine 

 trees constantly to be seen, whether planted singly, in avenues, or grouped in 

 masses, constitute one of its most pleasing features ; and the sylvan scenery of 

 the parks of the gentry, often of large extent, intersected with carriage-roads 

 and foot-paths, arranged according to the shape and form of the land in a man- 

 ner best to display and bring under notice its most attractive features, or when 

 a wide prospect can be obtained to bring it into view, forms a beautiful land- 

 scape. In the larger places, and where their cost would not be taken into 

 account, architectural decorations, as gates, lodges, and bridges, in harmony with 

 the character of the house and grounds, are often made use of to add to their 

 attractions. The present system of landscape-gardening, as appHed to what are 

 commonly designated " pleasure-grounds," that consists in laying them out with 

 walks and drives, and arranging their improvement in accordance with the natu- 

 ral features of the scenery, — sometimes called the natural method, in contradis- 

 tinction to the artificial method of straight avenues, with clipped hedges, and 

 trees trimmed and formed into unnatural shapes, having in the arrangement no 

 regard to the character of the grounds, — may be said to have had its origin in 

 England, and to have been there first practised ; and it is not unusual to hear 

 grounds in other countries, laid out on this system, designated as English gar- 

 dens. 



The forest and ornamental trees m.ost common in England are, some of 

 them at least, of the same species as those most usually met with in the eastern 

 part of the United States, although not always of the same varieties ; some of 

 them differing somewhat in shape or foliage, yet in other instances appearing 

 identical in variety. Those most common are elms, oaks, beech, maple, birch, 

 ho'-<5e-chestnut, willows, and poplars ; the three first named being, perhaps, the 

 most so. As specimens of the English varieties of most of these trees are not 

 unusual in the United States, any attempt to describe them, so as to point out 

 wherein the difference between those of the same species in the two countries 

 consists, would be superfluous, unless it be to say that it seemed to me that the 

 common English oak was more symmetrical in shape, and had a more rounded 

 head, than the American species. It may be that in this opinion I am mistaken, 

 and that it was only some particular individuals, that were brought immediately 

 under my observation, that were thus distinguished. For ornamental purposes 

 on groves and avenues, the elm and oak are everywhere favorites. Tlie beech 

 too, with its smooth, light-colored trunk, and dark, glossy foliage, is a very fine 

 tree. An avenue of beeches of great size in Studley Park, Yorkshire, were, 

 as I now remember, among the finest trees that I saw in England. The 

 white birch, either by itself or mixed with other trees, though not growing to 

 a great size, is often quite ornamental ; and the horse-chestnut is often used to 

 good effect. Both in England and on the Continent, but especially on the Con- 

 tinent, I think that more use is made of the horse-chestnut than with us, both 

 in avenues and clumps ; and it is well adapted to the purposes for which it is 

 used in Europe. It is certainly a fine tree when full grown, and, when covered 

 with its large flowers, very beautiful ; the red-flowering variety, especially, pro- 



