THE planter's GUIDE. 



327 



approaches, he will, of course, prefer the early Beech ; but 

 where thick and heavy trees are wanted to break obtru- 

 sive views, or shut out displeasing objects, the late or 

 upright kind will at once recommend itself. In like manner, 

 where interesting scenery is to be introduced, whether 

 near or distant, the slender boughs of the spreading or 

 early sort will be found to play upon it more beautifully 

 than those of almost any other tree of the forest, half con- 

 cealing and half revealing the different objects, according 

 to the planter's fancy : 



" Here the thin Abole, 

 "With lofty bole and bare, the smooth-stem'd Beech, 

 Or slender Alder, give our eye free space 

 Beneath their boughs to catch each lessening charm. 

 E'en to the far horizon's azure bound."* 



Besides the importance of the Beech as a lawn tree, I 

 know no one of equal utility in transplanting close woods 

 (as hereafter to be explained) or in bush-planting in the 

 park, I mean as underwood, in which case it must, of 

 course, be kept carefully headed down. Being patient of 

 the knife, it is admirably adapted to promote both close- 

 ness and variety, especially in plantations of limited 

 depth. It prevents the eye from wandering among the 

 stems of the standards or grove-wood, and perceiving the 

 limits of the boundary. Besides, the cheerful green which 

 it wears, and the sober brown, and sometimes bright 

 orange of its winter foliage, give a richness quite 

 unequalled by any other plant. I have already recom- 

 mended, and I trust with some effect, the aboriginal Oak 

 as a powerful auxiliary for this purpose ; and when we 

 reflect on the rapidity and certainty with which the Beech 

 thrives in all soils and in all situations, I have little doubt 



* English Garden, B. iii. 214. 



