THE MANSE GARDEN. 11 



has the holly a virtue which belongs not to any other 

 tree. It is usual, by the common mode of planting, 

 to have needless shelter in summer, and none in 

 winter when the want is greatest. Why, said an 

 ancient poet, should music be contrived only to en- 

 liven the occasions of mirth, and not rather to sooth 

 those of sadness? And why, with like reason, it may 

 be asked, should such trees be set for shelter as lavish 

 their clothing on the summer months, and leave those 

 of winter to cold and nakedness ? 



But have not all modern plantations, it may be 

 said, a due mixture of evergreens Scotch firs, va- 

 rieties of spruce, and the beautiful Weymouth pine? 

 They usually have, it must be granted ; and there is 

 to be found no fault at all with modern science as 

 displayed in the rearing of large plantations ; for 

 indeed a true knowledge of that delightful subject, 

 together with extensive and liberal practice, have, of 

 late years, adorned and enriched our country. But 

 of small strips and clumps designed for imparting 

 beauty and comfort to the villa, the author asserts, 

 in general, the utter insufficiency. By attending to 

 the manner in which such strips are usually formed, 

 and to the successive stages of their growth, it will 

 appear that the intended shelter must fail, and naked- 

 ness ensue ; and, further, the author humbly hopes 

 to show, that for this evil there may be found an 

 easy and effectual remedy. 



The strip, then, is planted with hardwood, inter- 

 spersed with a due proportion of firs, to give warmth 

 and verdure to the winter; and for a time the suc- 

 cess is such as to answer all the anticipations of the 

 owner. But thinning becomes necessary, that the 



