PART VIII. 



PICTURESQUE PLANTING. 



449 



interesting than to examine their progress, and mark their se- 

 veral peculiarities. In their progress from plants to trees, thej 

 every year unfold more characteristic marks of their ultimate 

 beauty ; which not only compensates for past cares and trouble, 

 but, like the returns of gratitude, raise a most agreeable train 

 of sensations in the mind ; so innocent and rational, that they 

 may justly rank with the most exquisite of human enjoyments. 



" Happy the man possessed of ancient groves ; 

 Happier who plants his trees : while time improves 

 And forms their beauties to reward his care, 

 He, like great Cyrus, cries, c I placed them there'." 



But, as the most powerful motives to planting are those 

 which address themselves to the interest of the individual, I 

 proceed to consider it more particularly in this point of view. 

 The great profits which arise from planting, have been taken 

 notice of by many writers*; and if we look into their works, 



* See Du HamePs Works ; Mr, A. Young's Tours ; Hunter's Evelyn's Sylva ; 

 Agricola on Timber Trees ; and a great many other authors. It is not affirmed, 

 that the above profits are what commonly attend planting; or, even what might 

 uniformly attend it, supposing good management : they are only mentioned here to 

 shew what has been done in particular situations. I have judged it necessary to re- 

 mind the reader of this ; because, in the Monthly Review for May 1806, it is stated, 

 that 1 affirm planting to be abundantly more profitable than agriculture : which is 

 far from being the case, as will appear in the next page. The truth is, that the re- 

 view of my work in that publication consists in an entire misrepresentation of my sen- 

 timents on planting and improvement; while the author of it does not shew the least 



3 m 



