PART VIII. PICTURESQUE PLANTING. 475 



2. The Beech. — This tree is remarkable for its thickness of 

 branches and foliage, which it throws out generally in great 

 abundance from the ground upwards, even though crowded 

 among other trees. This, and its quality of retaining its leaves 

 all the winter, makes it particularly valuable in narrow planta- 

 tions, for thickening woods", or concealing offensive objects. 



3. The horse-chesnut will grow freely in a poor sandy 

 soil, and exposed to the sea breeze ; as may be seen at Tyn- 

 ningham and Tynefield. It will bear transplanting at al- 

 most any age. Its chief beauty consists in the recumbency of 

 its lower branches as it grows old, and its conical clusters of 

 white blossoms early in summer. Its fruit is excellent food 

 for milch cows. 



4. The larch. — Although much has been already said 

 about this tree, it can scarcely be too much recommended for 

 its utility, not merely as timber, but in every stage of its 

 growth. At Kersehall, in the grounds of the author's father, 

 a fence was made seven years ago of dead young larches, which 

 had been rooted out of a plantation the year before. The main 

 stems of the trees were not above an inch in diameter at the 

 surface; but still the fence, including every little twig of these 

 trees, remains at this day apparently as fresh as when it was 

 put up. 



