252 ENGLISH ESTATE FORESTRY 



may be retained with advantage when the first object has 

 been achieved. The abele has a fine effect in spring, and 

 the aspen is a most beautiful tree through the summer 

 months. Other trees of the same nature might be in- 

 troduced, but character should be aimed at rather than too 

 great a variety. A few groups of English elm, with their 

 massive boles and branches, and their rich masses of tufted 

 foliage, form grander featui'es than a great variety of less 

 conspicuous trees. 



The distribution of park timber is affected by much the 

 same principles as those already referred to in connection 

 with the landscape effect of trees in general, and it will be 

 sufficient to deal here with the character of park timber in 

 the form of masses, such as groves or clumps, belts, groups, 

 and single trees of different species, and the positions which 

 are best adapted to show them to advantage. 



The Clump. 



Of all forms of park timber, the clump is the one most 

 potent for good or evil. Properly placed, and skilfully 

 planted or thinned, it constitutes one of the most conspicuous 

 as well as one of the most pleasing objects that can be found. 

 In small parks clumps can only exist in small numbers and 

 on a small scale, or they will block up the ground and 

 obscure the view in every direction. But in large parks, 

 clumps are absolutely necessary if adequate variety is to be 

 secured, and the space become something better than a 

 plain sprinkled with single trees, and every acre of which is 

 a more or less exact copy of its fellows. The function of 

 clumps is that of furnishing a number of small back-grounds 

 which shorten the view in various directions, and produce 

 masses of shade which will contrast with the more open 

 portion of the ground. They also serve in hiding the sky- 

 line of bold or bare hills or hillocks, and give a depth and 

 variety to the scenery generally, which would be impossible 

 with single trees alone. Considerable skill and judgment 

 are required, however, in placing clumps so that the end in 

 view shall be attained, and yet too great an interference 



