86 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



particular aspects^ branclies ont into a multitude of 

 details. Our remarks may be directed^ first^ to trees 

 individually in respect to form ; tben^ to their colour ; 

 and lastly, to tlieir expression in combined masses and 

 groups. 



Sect. I. — The Forms oe Single Trees. 



The forms assumed by the individuals of any species 

 of tree_, such as the oak or Scotch fir_, vary much vdth 

 the soil, situation, and age of the particular tree, yet 

 amid all their diversities they preserve a character at 

 once discernible by the practised eye. The oaks in the 

 rich and open park, in the crowded forest, and in the 

 mountain ravine differ greatly from each other, but they 

 are plainly oaks, and have each a beauty of their own. 

 How dissimilar also the plume-like ash in its youth, 

 rushing up in some sheltered valley, to the round- 

 headed ash of middle age in an open situation, and still 

 more to the gnarled, large-timbered, wavy-boughed, 

 and pendulous-branched ash bending under the weight 

 of years. In the same species too there are often consti- 

 tutional differences, amounting almost to what botanists 

 call varieties. These circumstances necessarily preclude 

 minute verbal description. Still there are certain gene- 

 ral forms affected by trees in their natural growth, and 

 all that is required for the purpose of the planter is to 

 keep these steadily in view. Though every species and 

 variety of tree has its own peculiar expression, if not 

 distinct character, we do not deem it necessary to advert 

 to each separately, believing it to be sufhcient for the 

 illustration of our subject to class them under four lead- 

 ing divisions, and then to refer to a few of the kinds 



