CYPRESS TREE. 201 



situations its dark and slender head adds a 

 gloom rather than cheerfulness to the scene, 

 particularly in autumnal evenings; when either 

 the sun leaves its last streak, or the rising moon 

 sends a silvery stream of light down the dark 

 foliage, which gives additional sombre to the 

 shade, and a spectre-like appearance to the 

 imagination of the gloomy mind. 



Mr. Miller says, " the spreading cypress is 

 by far the largest growing tree, and is the 

 most common timber in some parts of the 

 Levant. This, if planted upon a warm, sandy, 

 gravelly soil, will prosper wonderfully ; and 

 though the plants of this sort are not so finely 

 shaped as those of the first, yet they greatly 

 recompense for that defect by their vigorous 

 growth and strength, in resisting all weathers. 

 This tree is very proper to intermix with 

 evergreens of a second size next to pines and 

 firs, to form clumps, in which class it will 

 keep pace with the trees of the same line, and 

 be very handsome. Besides, the wood of 

 this tree is very valuable, when grown to a 

 size fit for planks, which I am convinced it 

 will do in as short a space as oaks ; therefore, 

 why should not this be cultivated for that pur- 

 pose, since there are many places in England 

 where the soil is of a sandy or gravelly nature, 

 and seldom produces any thing worthy culti- 



