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THE planter's GUIDE. 



the leaves are off ; only, that the branches in the former 

 are less closely set, and therefore hang more loosely or 

 negligently. Its slender spray, however, has nearly the 

 same pendent character as that of the Lime, while the 

 whole tree is far superior in point of lightness and trans- 

 parency. This sort — I mean the spreading Beech — 

 always drops its leaves at the fall, and is considerably 

 earlier in obtaining them in the spring ; it being some- 

 times observed to be in full leaf while the buds of the 

 other sort are only beginning to burst. 



The upright or late Beech is altogether of a different 

 character, and seemingly the more hardy of the two. Its 

 branches are far more numerous, and more thickly set. 

 At a short distance from the stem, they bend decidedly 

 upwards, and give it a spiral form ; yet strongly exhibit- 

 ing that heaviness of which Gilpin complains, and which 

 is so unfavourable for receiving, like the Oak and Ash, 

 great masses of light. This kind retains its leaves dur- 

 ing the winter, at least while young ; and, indeed, they 

 tenaciously adhere to it till late in the spring or begin- 

 ning of summer, when the old are pushed off by the new. 

 It is remarkable that the upright Beech, although the 

 least handsome of the two, is by far the more common, at 

 least in Scotland, where, for one decidedly pendent, you will 

 see twenty that are of the spiral sort. Whoever atten- 

 tively considers this short account, and compares it with 

 the trees themselves, will at once perceive the justice of 

 the foregoing remarks on the description of Gilpin, and 

 the true scope and meaning of that accurate observer. 



The great utility and importance of the Beech in form- 

 ing natural landscape are abundantly obvious. In wood- 

 ing a park or lawn of any extent, it is plain that the 

 skilful planter wiU apply the two varieties to very diffe- 

 rent purposes. Near the mansion-house or principal 



