PART VIII. PICTURESQUE PLANTING. 493 



from analogy, may deduce such general consequences as will 

 suggest important practical rules. 



It may be proper to observe, that by culture I do not mean 

 merely the operations upon the soil, or even on the form of 

 the tree ; but every thing that tends to remove it from its 

 natural state in order to accelerate vegetation. I consider 

 also, that a tree is in a natural state wherever it has sprung 

 up fortuitously and propagates itself without aid from man ; 

 whether it is in crowded forests, woody wastes, or in scattered 

 groups on hills or commons*. Now it is known to every one 

 in the least conversant with the vegetable economy, that in all 

 herbaceous vegetables, and even shrubs of considerable size, 

 the effect of removal to an improved soil, climate, and situa- 

 tion, is to expand the parts of the whole vegetable; that the 

 effect of removing or cutting off part of the vegetable above 



* Some trees and other vegetables may be said to be naturalized to situations, 

 which, but for art, they probably never would have grown upon. Thus we some- 

 times find mountain plants common in plains, and even meadows; and alpine 

 trees which disseminate themselves in level and warmer parts of the country : 

 but then the botanist, by comparing the effects of these different situations on 

 the vegetable, always knows to select as general nature that which perfects all the 

 parts, and where the soil and situation are best suited for the reproduction of the 

 species, and the prolongation of individual life. These rules are founded in na- 

 ture. For example: no person, judging from them, could mistake a warm Eng- 

 lish common as the natural soil and situation of Scotch firs, though they frequently 

 disseminate themselves there. 



