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PART II. 



OF THE SCIENCE OF THE STUDY OF TREES. 



The subject of trees, like every other subject, to be studied in the best man- 

 ner, must be studied according to some methodical arrangement; and it is the 

 purpose of this part of our work to lay down an outline of that method which 

 we consider the best. By including in such an outline every particular which 

 ought to be taken into consideration in the study of trees, we shall be the less 

 likely to omit any of these particulars in giving the description and history of 

 individual species ; and the reader, also, will profit by having his attention pre- 

 viously directed to what this history and description ought to contain. 



Trees may be studied both as individual objects, and as connected with 

 other objects. As individual objects, they may be considered pictorially, or as 

 component parts of the general scenery of a country ; and botanically, as 

 organised beings. As objects connected with others, trees may be studied with 

 reference to nature, animate and inanimate, which may be considered as their 

 natural history ; and with reference to man in a state of civilisation, which may 

 be called their economical history. We shall devote a short chapter to each 

 of these subjects, and in a concluding one give a summary of the whole. 



CHAP. I. 



OF THE STUDY OF TREES PICTORIALLY, OR AS COMPONENT PARTS OF 

 GENERAL SCENERY. 



The study of trees, as component parts of landscape, may be carried on with 

 very little knowledge of either their natural or their economical history ; and, 

 indeed, with less knowledge of any other objects or sciences, than most studies. 

 Experience proves that a man may excel as a graphic artist with very little 

 knowledge beyond his art ; but, at the same time, it is also found, from expe- 

 rience, that all the greatest artists have been, more or less, philosophers ; and 

 hence, though a knowledge of the natural and economical history of trees may 

 not be essential for the artist who studies them pictorially, it will yet be found 

 to render him material assistance. 



The subject of this chapter naturally divides itself into the study of the forms 

 of trees and shrubs; the study of their character and expression; and the art 

 of delineating them pictorially. 



Sect. I. Of the Study of the Forms of Trees and Shrubs. 



The first quality in a tree which will strike a general observer, coming to 

 the study with only a few notions relative to form, will be its bulk, or the space 

 that it occupies in the landscape which meets his eye. This bulk, or mag- 

 nitude, resolves itself into height and width; and the consideration which 

 immediately follows is, the outline that the tree makes against the sky, or 

 against any other object which appears behind it. The next points that will 

 probably attract notice are, the colour of the tree/and the degree of brilliancy 

 of the lights which appear on its masses. Subsequently, the attention may be 

 drawn to the trunk of the tree : for example, to observe whether it appears to 

 be adequate to the support of the head ; whether the head appears equally 

 balanced on it ; and whether it stands perpendicularly, or obliquely, to the sur- 



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