320 THE BEECH. 



whether we consider its smooth rind or bark, its 

 glossy foliage or graceful pendulous boughs." 

 Gilpin, after pointing out the defects of the tim- 

 ber of this tree, proceeds to say, " In point of 



VILLAGE OF SELBORNE. 



picturesque beauty, I am not inclined to rank 

 the Beech much higher than in point of utility. 

 Its skeleton, compared with that of the Oak, the 

 Ash, and the Elm, is very deficient. Its trunk, 

 we allow, is often highly picturesque; it is 

 studded with bold knobs and projections, and 

 has sometimes a sort of irregular fluting about 

 it, which is very characteristic. 



