12 Gilpin's poeest scenery. 



tree, or the wliole will only be a large bush. 

 Such is the Horse Chestnut, the form of which is 

 commonly unpleasing.* From position, indeed, 

 and contrast, heaviness, though in itself a defor- 

 mity, may be of singular use in the composition 

 both of natural and of artificial landscape. 



A tree also must be well balanced to be beau- 

 tiful. It may have form, and it may have light- 

 ness, and yet lose all its effect by wanting a 

 proper poise. The bole must appear to support 

 the branches. We do not desire to see it sup- 

 porting its burden with the perpendicular firm- 

 ness of a cohimn. An easy sweep is always 

 agreeable ■■: but, at the same time, it should not be 

 such a sweep as discovers one side plainly over- 

 balanced. 



On bleak sea' coasts trees generally take an 

 unbalanced form : and, indeed, in general, some 

 foreign cause must operate to occasion it; for 

 Nature, working freely, is as much inclined to 

 balance a tree upon its trunk, as an animal upoA 

 its legs. 



* See page 88.— Ed. 



