304 gilfin's forest scenery. 



a great degree, on the play and irregularities of 

 tlie ground ; but chiefly it depends on the sur- 

 rounding woods. 



The forest lawn in itself is a mere field. It is 

 only when adorned with the furniture of surround- 

 ing woods, that it produces its effect. 



The forest heath, also, when it is level and 

 bounded only by the horizon, has no charms for 

 the eye. When it consists of well-mixed in- 

 equalities of ground, it gains somewhat more 

 upon us. But when it is bounded by woods in 

 various parts, and interspersed, here and there, 

 with clumps, which gently unite its woody 

 boundaries with its area, it becomes an interesting 

 scene. Sometimes also a variety of furze, fern 

 and other wild plants, stain it, in many parts, 

 with beautiful tints. Often, too, a winding road 

 passes through it, or different roads traversing 

 each other. Herds of cattle, also, of different 

 kinds ■ continually frequent its open plains ; and 

 when these circumstances happily unite, the heath 

 becomes one of the beautiful scenes of the forest. 



As it is distant wood, however, on which the 

 forest lawn, and especially the forest heath, de- 



