27 



shades, as the finest timber tree, however 

 beautiful in other respects, with all its 

 health and vigour cannot exhibit, 



This careless method of cutting, just as 

 the farmer happened to want a few stakes 

 or poles, gives infinite variety to the gene- 

 ral outline of the banks. Near to one of 

 these " unwedgeable and gnarled oaks," 

 often rises the slender elegant form of a 

 young beech, ash, or birch, that had es- 

 caped the axe, whose tender bark and light 

 foliage appear still more delicate and airy, 

 when seen sideways against the rough bark 

 and massy head of the oak : sometimes it 

 rises alone from the bank; sometimes from 

 amidst a cluster of rich hollies or wild ju- 

 nipers ; sometimes its light and upright 

 stem is embraced by the projecting cedar- 

 like boughs of the yew. 



The ground itself in these lanes, is as 

 much varied in form, tint, and light and 

 shade, as the plants that grow upon it; this, 

 as usual, instead of owing any thing to art, 

 is, on the contrary, occasioned by accident 



