ON THE FORMATION OF THE PINETUM. 
199 
One of the evils which has resulted from the increased love for variety and novelty in 
the grounds appended to mansion residences is, that since it has become fashionable to 
collect large quantities of these trees, they have been but too generally distributed at random, 
too frequently spotting and frittering the fine breadths and glades of open lawn which the 
artist of former days had so happily designed, and detracting by miserable comparison 
from the grandeur and dignity of their more stately and picturesque indigenous neighbours ; 
at the same time, destroying that congruity and unity of expression which should pervade 
the whole. 
There are at this moment in this country, some magnificent collections of Pines, 
which have been planted without the slightest attempt at scientific or picturesque arrange- 
ment. There are some, equidistant lines in open spaces ; there are others doling out a 
wretched existence under lofty indigenous trees ; all these we think, are not what they 
ought to be ; but believing that a Pinetum is a charming addition, and calculated to 
heighten the attractions of a country residence, we will now proceed to give an idea of an 
arrangement which we think would satisfy the (“ elegantice formarum spectator ”) and 
combine the scientific interest which the mere botanist would expect ; and in doing this, it 
will be necessary to bear in mind that in the age in which we live, while the principle of 
utility is not to be disregarded, we must endeavour to make that which is simply useful, 
agreeable, elegant, and attractive, to well-regulated minds. 
It is strangely anomalous, but no less “ strange than true,” that persons who are 
possessed of the most refined and classical taste as regards sculptures, paintings, and other 
works of art, are constantly committing great and gross errors in the arrangement of 
rural scenery. And there needs no more convincing proof of this, than a reference to 
the unmeaning mixtures and fritterings of Conifers, by courtesy called Pinetums. 
Many of our readers are doubtless acquainted with Woburn Abbey, the seat of his 
Grace the Duke of Bedford, and probably with that portion of the grounds of that 
princely residence, called “the Evergreens,” and planted by John, Duke of Bedford, in 
1742. Considered as a collection of Evergreen Trees, formed with the limited varieties 
then known (as compared with our present researches), this is, perhaps, the most perfect 
of its kind. That great authority, Mr. Repton, speaking of it, says — “ I must not here 
omit the full tribute of applause to that part of the drive at Woburn in which Evergreens 
alone prevail ; it is a circumstance of grandeur, of variety, of novelty, and, I may add, of 
winter comfort, that I never saw adopted in any other place, on so magnificent a scale. 
The contrast of passing from a wood of deciduous trees to a wood of evergreens, must 
be felt by the most heedless observer; and the same sort of pleasure (though in a 
weaker degree), would be felt in the course of a drive, if the trees of different kinds 
were collected in small masses or groups by themselves, instead of being blended 
indiscriminately.” 
How little does the more modern disposition of the Pinetum in our grounds accord 
with the principles laid down by this great master, whose opinions are just quoted. But 
how much might be done to produce picturesque and scientific interest, by taking them 
as a guide. 
How beautiful and imposing would be the effect, if, after proceeding through an 
ordinary woodland drive of deciduous trees, we could enter one having a wild foreground 
of Furze and Thorns, with the Pines scattered about in the natural groups into which 
they are divided, preserving occasionally considerable breadth to distant scenery, and 
bearing in mind that indiscriminate mixture does not produce variety, but sameness. And 
if the Araucarias, Cedar, Junipers, Cupressus, Cryptomerias, &c., were introduced in the 
same manner, how delightful it would be as a winter resort- — 
u Here dark trees. 
Funereal Cypress, Yew, and shadowy Pine 
And spicy Cedar, clustered,” — 
would greet us with their perpetual verdure and give us that salutary shelter from the 
cold blasts ; and here, we would introduce Mahonias, Double-flowering Furze, with 
