PLANTING. 53 



brethren excel it in grandeur and beauty. The character of the elm, 

 in its skeleton, partakes much of the oak, — so much, that when it 

 is rough and old, it may at a distance be taken for an oak. In full 

 foliage, its character is more clearly marked ; and no tree is better 

 adapted to receive grand masses of light : its leaves are small, which 

 gives it a natural Hghtness, and it is in general very picturesque." 

 The timber of this tree is in some instances serviceable, but is 

 not valuable. 



JJlmus montana, or the Wych hasel, is found in shady lanes and 

 the outskirts of woods, in most parts of England, and seems clearly to 

 be indigenous : its habit of growth is more loose and straggling than 

 the common elm, which gives it a light, broken, and pleasing outline, 

 and consequently better suited to the picturesque. 



Fagus syhatica, or the common beech, as an ornamental tree, de- 

 serves a place in the foreground ; it possesses a stately trunk, a glossy 

 foliage, and gracefully-spreading pendulous boughs, and has a fine and 

 noble effect when standing singly in a park or in ornamental grounds : 

 it throws out its branches gracefully, and feathers almost to the 

 ground. In woods and groves it grows clear of branches to a great 

 height. It is indigenous to several countries of Europe. The wood 

 of the beech is not very valuable, although useful for a variety 

 of purposes. 



Castanea sativa, or the common chestnut, grows to a great size, 

 with a noble and picturesque bole, and spreads its branches finely 



