PRUNING ORNAMENTAL TREES. 47 1 



a fparing hand, efpecially Ornamental trees in the 

 park or the lawn. It fhould be kept in mind, 

 that here the principal object is not timber, but 

 beauty ; .and nothing can be farther removed from 

 this, than various forts of trees forced into the 

 fame generaj outline by mere dint of pruning. 

 Indeed, every ornamental tree mould appear as if 

 formed by nature: the mark of a tool mould ne- 

 ver, if pofiible, be feen upon it. 



The Afh mould be allowed to exprefs his own 

 natural (lability, by his T-jfcan trunk, fupportiiig 

 his lofty and far-extended limbs ; a wing of which 

 might probably cover a fmall group of Hazel, en- 

 twined with Bramble. 



The Oak, the king of trees, ihould be guided 

 to the greateft paffible height, that, in the majefly 

 of his ilature, he may look down on his lefs im- 

 portant neighbours ; perhaps covering in his made 

 a group of common Hawthorn or Holly. 



The Sycamore and the Lime fhould exprefs 

 their natures by the multiplicity of their fcciable 

 branches and leaves, fuppdrted by their mafiy 

 trunks, in their quiet retreat near the gentle mur- 

 mur of the rivulet, whofe waters fcarcely cover 

 the pebbles among which they creep along ; al- 

 lowing to be heard the grateful hu minings of the 

 laborious bees, offered up while they fip the ho- 

 ney from the rich flowers of thefe trees ; while 

 the bleating (heep and lowing cattle, beneath, ex- 



prcft 



