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cessary 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 developed ; 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, there- 

 fore, 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, be- 

 sides the advantage of requiring less artistic knowledge 

 and study, are also for the same reasons more generally 

 understood and noticed by others. Trees, however ex- 

 cellent and beautiful, if they have not superadded 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! 



