mth regard to Practical Gardeners. 265 



undergrowths ; care being taken that the eye does not see 

 through it, except for the sight of some suitable object. 



Open groves may be greatly improved by a judicious dis- 

 position of such undergrowths. Insulated groups of trees 

 should always have a base of holly, juniper, and whitethorn ; 

 the latter is an excellent protector of the honeysuckle roses, 

 or any other climbing plant ; even single trees are improved 

 in character and appearance, when they give protection to an 

 humble neighbour. 



When the woods and groups of the park are thus planted, 

 the naked baldness so often complained of will be remedied; 

 the detached parts will be better connected ; the hard profiles 

 of clumps softened; and the whole will then partake of the 

 semblance of the more dressy features of the pleasure-ground, 

 an advantage of no small importance. 



In forming new plantations of forest trees, the above direc- 

 tions (which are all plain practicable matters) are easily exe- 

 cuted ; it is only sowing the ground with the seeds of the 

 undergrowth, after the principal trees are planted : the whole 

 will then rise together, and yield many supernumeraries for 

 other purposes. Old scenery may be improved by trans- 

 plantation, or sowing the seeds of the kinds above mentioned ; 

 but this requires much more care and expense than when done 

 at first. 



Before concluding these observations, it may be necessary, 

 perhaps, to advert to the different characters of trees as be- 

 longing to the different descriptions of scenery hereinbefore 

 specified ; a view of the trees themselves will give better ideas 

 than the most lengthened description. 



Beautijid Trees. — Among these the deciduous cypress (Cu- 

 pressus disticha) is perhaps unrivalled ; the mild tint and soft 

 wavy tufts of its delicate foliage, the elegant ramification of its 

 branches and spray, and the light feathery appearance of its 

 general form, mark it as a tree of singular beauty. The 

 bark, though dark brown and rather rough, contrasts agree- 

 ably with the gay verdure of the foliage, and it is altogether a 

 plant deserving the most conspicuous place in the most dressed 

 scene. 



Partaking of the same characteristics, in a greater or less de- 

 gree, the following are preferable, viz. the acacia ( RobinmPseud- 

 acacia) ; weeping willow (iSalix babylonica), where the climate 

 or situation is favourable ; white hiccory ( Jiiglans alba) ; ailan- 

 thus {Ailantiis glandulosa) ; storax (iStyrax officinale) ; weeping 

 birch ; common lime ; common beech ; Weymouth pine ; white 

 cedar (Cupressusifhyoides); red cedar (Juniper us virginiana) ; 

 and the common ash, when young. Most of these associate 



