716 Retrospective Criticism. 



Lancashire, on which I have made my observations, is very barren and 

 poor. Along the coast, and to the north of Liverpool, where many im- 

 provements have been made, I have had an opportunity of observing the 

 effects of the sea air and sea winds, and have found that much depends 

 on the distance which the trees are from the water. Plants which will not 

 live close beside the sea, will do so, and in some degree thrive, a mile or 

 two from it. I have seen as much difference in trees of one species which 

 have grown in these different situations, as there is between a gooseberry 

 bush and a full-grown oak tree. Much, also, depends upon the nature of 

 the situation : if sheltered by hills, or by a sea wall, so much the better. A 

 little, also, depends on the nature of the soil; as, the nearer it is to the sea, 

 the more sandy it becomes. Plants will not, however, thrive in either 

 rich or poor soil, if exposed to the main force of the winds; as it is the 

 particles of salt, carried over and sprinkled upon the plants by the sea 

 wind, which produce these injurious effects. If the plants can be screened 

 from these particles, many kinds will live for a time, but will not attain to 

 a great age. Many are blown down by the high winds, or broken off. 

 Some kinds of plants will do in places in which others would perish ; ob- 

 servation alone can ascertain those which will do best : I have noticed the 

 same species in various positions. Some sorts, that do elsewhere in poor 

 soils, cannot endure poor soil in conjunction with the salt air : other sorts 

 will do sheltered by the more hardy ones. I have not found any to endure 

 the vicinity of the sea so well as the black Italian poplar and the willow; 

 and these have, according to my experience, proved the best adapted to 

 screen the others. Most other kinds can hardly maintain a bare existence 

 if within a mile of the sea, and not screened. The sycamore, beech, alder, 

 mountain ash, elms, Spanish chestnut, horsechestnut, birch, and haw- 

 thorns may be ranked next to the above for hardiness. The oak and the 

 larch require to be well screened to live at all. The Scotch and most 

 other pines can only maintain a bare existence, when well screened ; at 

 least, it is seldom that they live through the first year ; and though here 

 and there one may be seen behind other trees, it is sure to have only a few 

 branches, and those all reclining to the east. Of the hardier shrubs which 

 thrive, more or less, near the sea, I may mention the common privet, Per- 

 sian and common lilacs, philadelphuses. Guelder rose, elder, laburnum, 

 dogwood, ivy, honeysuckles, and many others. Some more tender may 

 also exist ; these require a place to the east of the hardier kinds. As all 

 usually exhibit a posture reclining eastward, and have but few or no 

 branches to the westward, the appearance of^ a shrubbery or of a round 

 clump never has a good effect; and the trees most to the westward, 

 though of twenty years' standing, are only like shrubs. All trees planted 

 near the sea, on the west coast, recline, in a greater or less degree, to the 

 east, and form thus a regular slope. If screened by a wall on the west, 

 those nearest it will never attain a height greater than that of the wall : 

 they may make fine shoots in the summer, but in the winter these shoots 

 will be killed down to the level of the wall : in proportion to the distance ' 

 of the plants from the wall, they gradually rise higher. 



It must also be observed, that it is labour in vain to plant trees or shrubs 

 in such a situation before the end of March, as the winds previously to that 

 period are very strong from the west ; allowance, of course, being made 

 according to the distance from the sea. 



I may here notice two ash trees, Ia mile from the sea, as a proof that at 

 that distance they will attain a large size. They stand fully exposed, in a 

 hedgerow by the side of a road, and are of a sufficient size to form an 

 arch over it. I have often got up one of these trees, walked along its main 

 stem, and descended with ease at the extremity, going across from one field 

 into the other, and passing over the road. There are many instances of 



