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regard to their size, shape and color, we shall be able not only 

 to preserve, but to heighten the character of the scenes which 

 the ever varying topography calls into existence. This must 

 be a work of time. No person can appreciate this fact more 

 than a true artist and close observer of nature. Trees have 

 their individuality as strongly marked as men or animals ; and 

 to say that one tree would produce anything like the same effect 

 in a certain locality that another would, is to deny the exist- 

 ence of this individuality. It becomes necessary, then, not only 

 to know the lineaments, I may say, of every species, but to 

 know the precise outline of the landscape from all its points of 

 view. Where its effect is to be heightened by planting upon 

 this outline, the various species of trees in their maturity should 

 be sketched in turn, on paper, and in the mind on the ground, 

 before the grouping or planting is undertaken. In this way 

 alone can we achieve success or avoid error. I say the trees 

 in their maturity — I mean when they have arrived at that 

 point in their growth when their characteristics are fully de- 

 veloped ; and they must be planted for that development, no 

 matter what may be their effect upon the landscape when they 

 are first put into the ground. The desire for immediate effect 

 is the stumbling block of rural improvement, and every effort 

 should be made to avoid it. Trees are the first features in a 

 landscape, because the most necessary to it, and they are among 

 nature's noblest objects. It is, therefore, important, when 

 planted singly or blended in masses, that their distinguishing 

 character should be preserved. 



Those who wish to catch the eye by effect, generally avoid 

 trees, especially as principal features, choosing large objects, 

 such as bridges, terraces, etc., which, besides the advantage of 

 requiring less artistic knowledge and study, are also for the 

 same reasons more generally understood and noticed by others. 

 Trees, however excellent and beautiful, if they have not super- 

 added the beauty of effect, will attract no notice from observers 

 of this class, and with such it is no matter how execrable may 

 be the execution of the objects themselves ! 



A few large sized trees may be transplanted to produce im- 

 mediate effect, but the great bulk of the planting must neces- 

 sarily be from the nurseries on the ground ; and in this con- 

 nection, it is proper to state, that the most judicious course 



