LEAFJiESS WOODS. 13 



various combinations of stems — the traversing of 

 branches across each other in so many beautiful 

 directions — and the pains which Nature takes in 

 forming a wood as well as a single tree. She 

 leaves no part unclosed; but pushing in the 

 branch or the spray as the opening allows, she 

 fills all vacant space and brings the heads of trees, 

 which grow near each other, into contact ; while 

 every step we take presents us with some beauti- 

 ful variety in her mode of forming the fretted 

 roof under which we walk.' 



Very beautiful, in its suggestiveness, is this 

 language of the delightful writer on 'Forest 

 Scenery,' ' The pains which Nature takes in 

 forming a wood as well as a single tree ' — the 

 italics are Grilpin's. Those who notice such 

 things at all must often have remarked when 

 planting any little spot in a garden or park how 

 quickly Nature — kind Nature in this as in every- 

 thing — undoes the clumsy work of the planter. 

 Be he ever so deft in arranging the positions of 

 the plants he wishes to grow and the relations of 

 these to each other, he cannot — it is impossible — 

 however artistic aiid tasteful may be his method. 



