938 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. PART III. 



of plantations. These, whether in masses or even in hedge-rows, increase the evaporating surface, and 

 consequently render the atmosphere more humid ; an open country, he says, would be more dry, airy, and 

 wholesome. This is, no doubt, correct ; and, perhaps, some valleys and plains are more thickly studded 

 with hedge-rows and strips, than a strict regard to the culture of corn, or the salubrity of the atmosphere, 

 would justify : but the same objection will not apply to elevated situations and bleak hilly tracts, which 

 every one allows are greatly improved by planting, both in climate, agricultural produce, and general 



6764. Improving bad soils. " It certainly is not one of the least recommendations of planting," observes 

 Pontey, " that it may be made to contribute essentially to the improvement of a bad soil, as is the case 

 on sterile heaths and commons, where three means, the consequences of the planting, act together in pro- 

 moting such improvement The first is, the shade of the trees, which, by decomposing the vegetable 

 matter on the surface soil, renders it at once more fertile, and easily penetrable by the roots. The second 

 is, that by the decomposition of the annual fall of leaves, an addition is made to the vegetable soil, and 

 that of the very best description. The third circumstance is, that as the roots collect a great deal of their 

 support from a depth much lower than field vegetables are used to reach, they hence convert the useless 

 into useful. In short, instances are not wanting, where land previously producing little besides heath, 

 has, after producing a crop of trees, more especially firs, proved without further means very tolerable 

 pasture." (Profitable Planter, p. 231.) In the Agricultural Report for Perthshire (p. 243.) a heathy tract 

 is referred to, between Cupar and Perth, containing 2000 acres, which, after being twenty years under a 

 crop of Scotch firs, was profitably subjected to aration. 



6765. The shade of trees is highly grateful to man, whether reposing under a single 

 tree, or in a state of recreation under the shadow of a row, or in an avenue, grove, or 

 woodland path. " Shelter," Sang observes, " is not more useful in cold seasons, than 

 the shade of trees is gratifying to cattle in hot ones. In an exposed open field, under a 

 burning sun, the torture which cattle often endure is truly distressing." (Plant. Kal. 

 122.) In garden culture, shade is of great value; but walls are occasionally preferred to 

 trees for this purpose ; and next to walls, hedges or trees cut in the hedge manner. 



6766. The separation produced by ligneous vegetables, in the form of hedges, is of long use in gardening, 

 and of great and acknowledged importance in agriculture. In the latter art it may be considered as a 

 criterion of improved culture ; for when land lies intermixed, and is cultivated in what is called the 

 common-field manner, the want of sufficient individual interest precludes all extraordinary exertion, and 

 the country so cultivated has the same appearance now, that it had many centuries ago. Even on entire 

 properties lying open, the want of the power of separating and classing cattle, and regulating their mode 

 of grazing, and protecting particular fields for particular purposes, &c. is found so great -a disadvantage as 

 to be quite incompatible with the practice of improved farming. 



6767. The seclusion afforded by trees, either as hedges, rows, strips, or groups to dwellings of limited 

 surrounding territory may be desired from taste, or rendered necessary by personal infirmity, political, 

 local, or pecuniary circumstances. Trees, by their elevation and foliage, shut out external objects, ob- 

 struct the gaze of the over-curious, and dp not invite the visits of any one ; while they leave the occupant 

 in the centre of a little world of his own, in which he may enjoy himself in his own way. 



6768. The distinction any sort of trees afford to a dwelling in a naked solitary country, or exotic species 

 in one already wooded, is often desirable, as conveying cheerful and social ideas to the passing stranger, 

 and procuring for the owner that applause for improvement which he feels to be his due. In extensive 

 demesnes the outlines or prominent parts of them, may be indicated by particular sorts of trees ; so as, 

 from the house, or from a prospect-tower, in a central part of the estate, to render the contour of the 

 whole distinguishable. Where common, or any one kind of trees abound, uncommon or exotic kinds may 

 be made use of ; or a common tree, pruned in a particular way, will have an adequate effect 



6769. To appropriate, harmonise, or render apparently a part of a near estate, distant woody territory 

 which does not belong to it, may be considered as a selfish principle under the disguise of a social one ; 

 but it is, at all events, harmless in a moral point of view, and is valuable as a device in improving the 

 beauty of real landscape. Whatever may be the kinds of trees, or the forms in which they are 

 planted in the distant or adjoining property, which we may wish to appropriate (fig. 625. a a) ; the 

 principle is, to plant the same sorts of trees in corresponding forms (b &), in the property which we can 

 call our own. 



6770. The concealment of disagreeable objects by trees is top obvious, useful, and universal an improve- 

 ment to require being enlarged on. This is one of the most important uses to which they are applied in 

 small demesnes in a populous country, or near large towns. The desire of shutting out the houses of 

 others, and especially of our poorer neighbors, does not so much arise from dislike either to the objects 

 or the inhabitants, as from love of verdant scenery, and from a wish to have a country-seat as much like 

 the country as possible. The desire of shutting out manufactories, steam-engines, coal-works, work- 

 houses, &c. is still greater, because these objects excite ideas by no means in harmony with rural quiet ; 

 but no one ever thinks of shutting out a distant farm-house, solitary cottage, church, water-mill, bridge, 

 monument, or ruin ; for these are all interesting and agreeable objects, which are either characteristic ot 

 the country, or very generally occur there. 



6771. Trees heighten the effect of agreeable objects by associating or grouping with 

 them ; and thereby forming a more perfect whole. Every whole consists of a number 

 of parts, and the more varied the parts, provided they are allied among themselves, and 

 not confused or redundant, the greater must be the effect of the whole. Trees contri- 

 bute to the beauty of objects already beautiful ; by lending new forms, new colors, 

 varied light and shade ; by their own motion, by inviting birds, and even by their smell. 

 All these qualities are interesting to the moral and picturesque observer, and of great 



