274 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



taste and a knowledge of landscape have increased, we 

 begin to discover that a fine expanse, whether of land or 

 water, rather suffers an accession to, than a diminution of, 

 its extent, from being broken- into parts bj trees, as the 

 imagination never fails to magnify the extent of what is 

 concealed ; and hence new combinations are formed, and 

 fresh landscapes arise, from the variety produced by con- 

 cealment. 



It was probably on some such principle as this that 

 Mr Smith proceeded in advising his friend to diversify 

 his front towards the river, by the removal of trees of a 

 large size. Accordingly, during last spring, (1827,) the 

 field in front of Linthouse was most respectably wooded, 

 with detached and open dispositions of wood. Whether 

 they be very accurately disposed, according to the prin- 

 ciples of landscape, I cannot state, as I do not happen to 

 be personally known to the respectable owner, neither 

 have I lately seen the place from the river : but I under- 

 stand that they consist of Oaks, Beeches, Limes, Elms, 

 and Horse-Chestnuts, of which some are more than thirty 

 feet in height, and ten, twelve, and fourteen inches in 

 diameter. 



The trees were all transferred on the preservative prin- 

 ciple. They are thirty-two in number, and the gross 

 amount of the expense is £25, 5s. But deducting 

 £2 for the removal of earth, subsequently to the planting, 

 which was not a constituent part of the work, the actual 

 cost of each tree is nearly 14s. This sum, considering 

 the magnitude of several of the trees, and that it was 

 Mr AYatson's first essay, he has reason to regard as a 

 cheap purchase for such effects. And most men so cir- 

 cumstanced, we may venture to say, would have given 

 three times the money for the striking increase of comfort 

 and seclusion which, independently altogether of pic- ^ 



