112 Gilpin's forest scenery. 



same tree {Finns pinaster), and it is curious that Gilpin 

 sliould have referred to them as distinct. His mistake 

 may possibly have arisen on account of its irregular 

 growthj and from the fact, perhaps, of his having made the 

 acquaintance of the tree under each of its common names 

 and under differing circumstances of growth. — Bd. 



I The Weymouth Pine has very Httle picturesque 

 I beauty to recommend it. lb is admired for its 

 polished bark. The painter's eye pays little 

 attention to so trivial a circumstance, even when 

 the tree is considered as a single object. Nay, 

 its polished bark rather depreciates its value : for 

 the picturesque eye dwells with more pleasure on 

 rough surfaces than on smooth: it sees more 

 richness in them and more variety. But we 

 I object, chiefly, to the Weymouth Pine on account 

 j of the regularity of its stem, and the meagreness 

 I of its foliage. Its stem rises with perpendicular 

 exactness : it rarely varies ; and its branches issue, 

 with equal formality, from its sides. Its foliage 

 too is thin, and wants both richness and effect. 

 If I were speaking, indeed, of this tree in com- 

 position, I might add, that it may often appear 

 to great advantage in a plantation. Contrast, we 



