IN THE BEECHWOODS 131 
heavy crown of foliage of exquisite beauty alike 
in the tender green of spring, in the full vigour 
of summer growth, or in the rich russet-brown 
garb of autumn. 
Gilpin, writing in 1791, had a poor, mean 
opinion of this tree both from an esthetic and 
an utilitarian point of view. He does not even 
rank it among timber trees, ‘as its wood is of a 
soft, spongy nature; sappy, and alluring to the 
worm,’ adding also, ‘in point of picturesque 
beauty I am not inclined to rank the beech much 
higher than in point of utility.” Cobbett, too, 
treats it rather slightingly, for he has just as 
little to say about it in The Woodlands as about 
the cherry, and less than about birch or alder. 
Despite the majesty of the oak, there must yet 
be many among us who will concur in thinking 
Gilbert White’s estimate a much truer one, when 
he speaks of ‘ deech, the most lovely of all forest 
trees, whether we consider its smooth rind or 
bark, its glossy foliage, or graceful pendulous 
boughs.’ 
Among the older writers, favourable mention 
is often made of it. ‘Yet have I known,’ says 
Holinshed, ‘great woods of beech and hasell in 
