116 
ON IMPROVING OLD PLANTATIONS. 
But besides the desirableness of giving to home plantations the character of masses, 
(which alone, in ordinary cases, are capable of producing the requisite variety, intricacy, and 
beauty,) there would be a hardness and an isolation about all such masses, however 
elegantly their lines might be rounded, were the spaces between them left entirely blank. 
Hence, to give the required connexion, and to soften and harmonise the whole, there must 
not only be specimens and groups sprinkled about in front of the plantations, but also 
between them. In selecting these, the improver will have to be guided partly by a 
consideration of what trees already exist in the parts to be cleared away, that are at all 
fitted for remaining as separate specimens or groups. And about twice the requisite 
number of these should be marked to stand at the first thinning, so that there may be 
enough to choose from when the finishing strokes have to be put to the work. The 
ultimate views on which those that are to remain should be chosen, are, what will least 
interfere with the character of the scene beyond, and best conduce to a good outline, and 
blend with the other masses. Sometimes, in a small opening, a single tree will answer 
the purpose of connexion ; but it must be a good-shaped one, well clothed with lower 
branches, and by no means be in the centre of the glade, but appear as if dropped down 
accidentally nearer to one side than the other. If the tree be imperfectly formed, a few 
smaller ones left to support and balance it, and give it the requisite degree of roundness 
and finish, will often be useful. 
In openings of a larger description, a small group of trees, with a few single ones 
standing irregularly around it, and between it and the main masses, will frequently have 
to be left. Everything like sameness or similarity, however, between the furniture of any 
of these openings, should be particularly avoided. A few thorns or low bushes will often 
answer the purpose better than trees. And where the masses are small and not very 
distant, and their edges are made thin, fringe-like, and diffuse, intermediate plants may 
sometimes be advantageously dispensed with, particularly if the ground dips slightly in the 
open space, and rises gently towards either edge. Broader sunny glades will thus be obtained. 
And this appropriately introduces the remark, that another of the objects to be 
accomplished by cutting away parts of long plantations, is to break the uniform darkness 
of the shadow which they throw on the ground, and introduce sunny spots, which may also 
be clothed with perpetual verdure. During the summer, the effect of the sunlight on 
these varying glades, and of the shadows which the broken masses of trees throw into 
them, constantly changing as these will be with the advancing or retiring day, and according 
to the different points of the compass at which they are situated in relation to the house, 
will furnish a continual source of interest and diversified beauty. The lights and shadows 
of a landscape, of which only the general effect is usually noticed, will, if examined closely 
and in detail, be found full of attraction and rich in enjoyment. What is proposed, there- 
fore, is to give to these their proper and complete development. 
A further effect to be obtained by the wider diffusion of trees over an estate, is the 
extension of its apparent boundary. However large the property may be, long lines of 
plantation always seem to fix its limits. But if, on the other hand, the eye can travel 
delightedly through these at intervals, and take in other scenes, or simply get the line of 
the horizon broken in hilly parts, the actual boundary of a small place may frequently 
be hidden, and considerable indefiniteness of view secured. If it be objected that 
lengthened prospects are not so much to be sought from a house as a beautiful home scene, 
and that prospects are more suitably given from elevated parts of the grounds or estate, 
it may be replied, that the views here spoken of and sought to be introduced are only, 
as it were, snatches of the distant country, and not broad or expansive landscapes, without, 
however, admitting that these last are really unfit to be looked upon from the windows. 
Such portions of a remote district as can be brought into view through masses of trees, are 
in no way to be regarded as coming into comparison with the wide open prospects of an 
entire circuit of country, seen from the top of a considerable eminence. And the very 
masses of trees, with their various openings, which are here commended, serve to give the 
most wonderful variety of views into the distant country, from the many different points 
of observation. 
