322 



THE BEECH. 



especially when the tree is strongly illumined. 

 On the whole, however, the massy, full-grown, 

 luxuriant Beech is rather a displeasing tree. 

 It is made up of littlenesses, seldom exhibiting 

 those tufted cups, or hollow dark recesses, which 

 dispart the several grand branches of the more 

 beautiful kinds of trees. Contrary to the general 

 nature of trees, the Beech is most pleasing in 

 its juvenile state, as it has not yet acquired that 

 heaviness which is its most faulty distinction. 

 A light, airy, young Beech, with its spiry branches 

 hanging, as I have just described them, in easy, 

 forms, is often beautiful. I have seen, also, the 

 forest Beech, in a dry, hungry soil, preserve 

 the lightness of youth in the maturity of age. 



After all, however, we mean not to repudiate 

 even the heavy, luxuriant Beech in picturesque 

 composition. It has sometimes its beauty, and 

 oftener its use. In distance, it preserves the 

 depth of the forest ; and even on the spot, in 

 contrast, it is frequently a choice accompaniment. 

 In the corner of a landscape, when we want a 

 thick heavy tree, or part of one at least, which 

 is often necessary, nothing answers our purpose 

 like the Beech. But at present we are not con- 

 sidering the Beech in composition, but only as an 

 individual ; and in this light it is which we chiefly 

 conceive it as an object of disapprobation." 



Now it is very clear that the two authors whom 

 I have just quoted, at the time when they describ- 

 ed the tree, were actuated by very different feel- 

 ings : White approaches it as a genuine lover of 

 Nature, with a vision quick to discover, and pre- 

 disposed to admire, all that is beautiful in form 

 and colouring, admirable in structure, or impres- 



