and of Rural Imp'ovement generally, during 1840. 625 



planted, with the exception, pei'haps, of the smaller species and 

 varieties of peat-earth shrubs, indicated on the plan. By this 

 means, a greater number of species may be got into even the 

 smallest place, and the execution of the plan may be reduced 

 to almost the same degree of certainty as the execution of an 

 architectural design. The chief interest of every small place 

 must necessarily depend on the variety of trees and shrubs with 

 which it is planted ; and the interest of all large places is greatly 

 increased by the same means, while the general effect, which 

 depends on masses, is preserved. In some very fine country 

 seats, where the masses about the house are exceedingly well 

 placed with reference to the distant scenery, they are planted 

 with the commonest trees and shrubs, the most conspicuous 

 evergreen being the common laurel. This is exceedingly 

 offensive to an eye accustomed to see the finer description of 

 trees and shrubs always placed near the house ; while nothing 

 is gained in point of effect, because the same mass might be 

 produced by cedars and rhododendrons, and other such plants, 

 that is now done by laurels and larches. The grand cause why 

 the number of species of trees and shrubs planted about country 

 seats by modern landscape-gardeners is so limited, is the pre- 

 valence of the idea that picturesque beauty is the sole object of 

 plantations. This idea may, in a great measure, be traced to 

 a mistaken view of the writings of the late Sir Uvedale Price, 

 who ridiculed the idea of collecting together all kinds of plants 

 in a shrubbery, without paying any regard to their disposition 

 with reference to picturesque effect. Picturesque beauty, how- 

 ever, may be produced as effectively by a numerous collection of 

 trees and shrubs, as by the assemblage of a few species. Nay, 

 we will go further, and assert that, by planting every species by 

 itself in groups or masses connected with one another in the 

 manner which we have often described in this Magazine, the 

 picturesque effect will be great in proportion to the number of 

 species employed. But, independently altogether of picturesque 

 effect, the planter ought to enquire whether there are not other 

 beauties and effects which merit his attention. Is not the mere 

 botanical beauty of each species a source of interest to those 

 who have paid some attention to plants, even in a general way, 

 just in the same manner as the picturesque beauty produced by 

 them is a source of interest to those who have bestowed some 

 study on the picturesque ? The truth is, that the greater part 

 of the beauty of scenery, and of the external world in general, 

 depends on the cultivation of our minds. A person who knows 

 nothing of picturesque beauty in pictures, engravings, or books, 

 can have no love for it in nature; and one who scarcely knows 

 one plant from another will derive little more pleasure from a 

 collection of different species of plants, than from an assemblao-e 



