INTRODUCTION. 35 



covered with gravel, brought from the distance 

 of Kensington. Perhaps, there is no one 

 spot where the plants of the north and south 

 thrive so well together as in the English 

 shrubbery. Added to these advantages, the 

 absence of ravenous beasts and venemous 

 reptiles, are blessings that ought to make us 



" Vain of our beauteous isle, and justly vain, 

 For freedom here, and health, and plenty reign." 



The advantages to be derived from planting 

 timber trees will be noticed in their proper 

 place under their respective heads. Our 

 observations here will therefore be confined 

 to the recommending that great attention 

 be paid to the nature of the soil before the 

 plantation is formed ; so that the young trees 

 may have the benefit of a soil congenial to 

 their future growth. As it is the skilful 

 distribution of trees over the grounds, more 

 than their peculiar character, which adds 

 dignity to the landscape, so it forms one of 

 the most important parts of the planter's 

 study, to discover where to place the rising- 

 grove in such a situation as to improve the 

 view. In a flat country, the first care should 

 be to give an additional appearance of height 

 to spots already elevated, by planting upon 



n 2 



