242 ENGLISH ESTATE FORESTRY 



Another tasteless style of planting ornamental trees is 

 that of planting them at regular intervals along the edges of 

 rides. When one species only is used, and planted close 

 enough to form an avenue in course of time, this plan 

 sometimes leads to good results; but when perhaps half 

 a dozen different conifers are used, and planted in regular 

 succession like sentinels from so many regiments, the general 

 effect is anything but good, for the constant repetition 

 becomes monotonous, and is, further, out of character with 

 the surroundings. One does not expect or look for a collec- 

 tion of ornamental trees, or a display of specimens at every 

 step of a woodland walk, and which are continually reminding 

 one of the artificial origin of the wood. When other than 

 indigenous trees are used, they should appear as if they had 

 come there by accident as much as design, or at least their 

 artificial arrangement should be disguised as much as 



A far more appropriate form of planting artificial trees 

 is that which arranges them here and there in groups 

 throughout the wood. Arranged in this way, their true 

 character is able to develop, and they form distinct features 

 in the scenery, instead of being lost or disfigured by un- 

 suitable neighbours. Even this style, however, is liable to 

 be abused in one or two ways. In some cases too many 

 species are employed in planting them, instead of one or two 

 only. In such cases character is lost, and the clump 

 becomes a jumble of different colours and foliage, which 

 cannot be called really ornamental. In other cases the trees 

 are planted at too wide intervals to grow up in close order, 

 and yet not far enough apart to enable them to develop as 

 specimens. The result is that the lower parts of the crown 

 are cramped and confined, while the stems are sufficiently 

 coarse and knotty to prevent the trees ever becoming of use 

 or ornament as timber specimens. Sometimes, again, the 

 clumps form too great a contrast to the surrounding wood. 

 This is often the case when the clump is composed entirely 

 of a species which is not represented amongst the adjoining 

 trees, thus rendering it too prominent and distinct to appear 

 quite natural. This defect can, and should be, avoided, by 

 gradually leading up to, or toning off, any distinctive clump 



