248 ^ Gilpin's foeest scenery. 



tion may not be too abrupt. All we wisli to find, 

 in a group of this kind, is proportion , and general 

 form. 



With, respect to proportion, the detached group 

 must not encroach too much on the dignity of 

 the wood it aids, but must observe a proper sub- 

 ordination. A large tract of country covered 

 with wood will admit several of these auxiliary 

 groups of different dimensions. But, if the wood 

 be of a smaller size, the groups, also, must be 

 smaller and fewer. 



We observed that in a single tree we expected 

 elegance in the paints. In the smaller groups this 

 idea was relinquished, and, in its room, we ex- 

 pected a general contrast in trunks, branches, and 

 foliage. Bat, as the group becomes larger, and 

 recedes in the landscape, all these pleasing con- 

 trasts are lost, and we are satisfied with a general, 

 form. No regular form is pleasing. A group on 

 the side of a hill, or in any situation where the 

 eye can more easily investigate its shape, must be 

 circumscribed by an irregular line, in which it is 

 required that the undulations, both at the base 

 and summit of the group, should be strongly 



