THE COPSE. 267 



the deficiencies of this mode of scenery, as you 

 view it upwards from a boat, are lost ; and, in 

 almost every state, it has a good effect. While 

 it enriches the bank, its uncouth shape, unless 

 the fence is too much in view, and all its other 

 unpleasant appearances, are concealed. 



When a winding walk is carried through a copse, 

 which, as it will grow thin at the bottom and 

 stemmy, must necessarily, in a course of years, 

 even in point of' picturesque beauty, be given to 

 the axe — shall the 'whole be cut down together ? 

 Or shall a border be left, as is sometimes done, 

 on each side of the walk ? 



This is a difficult question; but I think all 

 should go together. Unless the border you leave 

 be very broad it will have no effect, even at 

 present. You will see through it ; it will appear 

 meagre; and will certainly never unite happily 

 with the neighbouring parts, when they begin to 

 grow. At least, let it not stand longer than one 

 year. The rest of the copse will then be growing 

 beautiful ; and the border may be dispensed with, 

 till it is replaced. But the best way certainly is, 

 if you have courage, to cut the whole down to- 



