THE PLA^TEE's guide. 



125 



admission of air be rendered dangerous or impossible: 

 that, in these circumstances, were so unnatural a state of 

 things suffered to continue, and were he to persist in an 

 unavailing warfare with his old enemj the wind, instead 

 of prudently conciliating that boisterous element, it was 

 clear that ere long it would find or make for itself more 

 than one entrance into his premises, however closely 



i secured, and to a certainty blow down his woods. Yet, 

 notwithstanding, I am sorry to observe that these dense 

 masses and barricades are still continued, and that his 

 woods are gradually approaching to a state utterly hope- 

 less and irremediable. I fear that my worthy friend is 



i not a solitary instance of want of skill, or rather want of 

 resolution, in conducting this important department. 



Having said so much about trees, it may be proper, in 

 this place, to add a few observations on the selection of 

 subjects for underwood. Copse or underwood for removal 

 is of two kinds : the one is that intended to mass up with 

 grove-wood, and to form close and mixed plantations ; 

 the other is what is meant as subjects for bush-planting 

 in the park. Of the properties which the former sort 

 should possess little needs be said, as it is evident that 

 they may be all quite properly of the non-protecting 

 description, and that any other sort of plants would be 

 thrown away upon it. Of the latter kind it is equally 

 plain that it must have properties suited to exposures, 

 although not in the same degree as trees ; because trees, 

 on account of their height, and other circumstances, can 

 less easily withstand the elements. 



As to bush-planting in the park or open field, it seems 

 to be something new, both in the conception and the 

 execution. Mr Pontey speaks of the thing in his late 

 useful Treatise on laying out grounds, but he justly 

 doubts the possibility of protecting such underwood as he 



