352 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



there is no character discernible, no general expression, which 

 may afford our imaginations the key of the scene, although 

 we may be pleased with its neatness, or its cultivation, we 

 feel no beauty whatever in its composition. 



Speaking of the blending of uniformity and variety, the 

 author remarks that there is obviously in the forms of ground 

 no certain proportion of these qualities, which is permanently 

 beautiful. The same degree of uniformity which is pleasing 

 in a scene of greatness or melancholy, would be disagreeable 

 or dull in a scene of gaiety or splendor. The same degree 

 of variety which would be beautiful in these, would be dis- 

 tressing in the others. By what rule, however, do we deter- 

 mine the different beauty of these proportions ? Not surely 

 by the composition itself; else one determinate composition 

 would be permanently beautiful ; but by the relations of this 

 composition to the expression or character of the scene ; by 

 its according with the demand and expectation of our minds ; 

 or by its being suited to that particular state of attention or 

 of fancy, which is produced by the emotion the scene 

 inspires. 



In the formation of beautiful groups of trees the same 

 adherence to expression is necessary ; and whatever may be 

 the character of the group, the real limit to variety is corres- 

 pondence in this expression. The permanent character of 

 trees arises from their form or their color. So far as form is 

 concerned, forms of different character are never found to 

 unite, or to constitute a beautiful composition. A mixture, 

 for instance, of the light and upright branches of the 

 almond with the falling branches of the willow, the 

 heavy branches of the horse-chesnut, and the wild arms 

 of the oak, would be absolute confusion, and would be 

 intolerable in any scene where design or intention could be 

 supposed. The mixture of trees, on the other hand, that 

 correspond in their forms, and that unite in the production of 

 one character, are found to constitute beautiful groups ; we 

 speak of them, accordingly, as beautiful from this cause. 

 When we meet with them in natural scenery, we are pleased 

 with the fortunate, though accidental connection, and we say. 



