PARK AND VILLA SCENERY. 
107 
We are delighted to meet with a written authority which confirms and amplifies 
hat we saw and passed through, several years after the description referred to was 
3 imed by the late Mr. Loudon. Then — that is, at the former period — many of the 
ibjects, though rich and thriving, were small ; but in 1844 a fulness of growth had 
pen attained, which demonstrated the skill and judgment of the designer. 
He had been assisted, doubtless, by a landscape gardener of great judgment, but 
he proprietor himself was the actuating mainspring ; for* of the more than a million 
ees thus presenting themselves in detail to notice, all in symmetrical beauty and 
ji natural position, every one had been planted by him, under his own supervision, 
itli the exception of a very few lordly oaks, elms, &c., seniors, whose ages far sur- 
issed those of any one now living on the demesne. 
By trees planted in the order above described, so as to develop all their indi- 
dual beauties, the utmost effect is produced, and this is also increased by judicious 
riming, particularly as affects the fir tribes. These trees are in general far too 
lickly planted, whence they draw each other up, and by the lashing and crossing 
? the branches, every appearance of figure or proportion is speedily destroyed. 
Then firs or pines are planted, as here, at proper distances, a few trees, comparatively 
peaking, “produce the appearance not only of a thick plantation, but of one of the 
Ireatest variety, and a continually varying succession of outline presented to the eye, 
hen driving along.” Such, at least, was the opinion of Mr. Loudon. 
Gilpin, writing of the Scotch fir, which, he says, is commonly held in contempt, 
bserves, that “it is seldom planted as a single tree, or in a judicious group, but 
snerally in close compact bodies, in thick array, which suffocates and cramps the 
■ees; and if they ever get loose from this bondage, they are already ruined ; their 
literal branches are gone, and their stems are drawn into poles, on which their heads 
ppear stuck as on a centre ; whereas, if this tree had grown in its natural state, all 
iischief had been prevented. Its stem would have taken an easy sweep, and its 
iteral branches would have hung loosely and negligently, and the more so as there 
; something peculiarly light and feathery in its foliage.” 
While on the subject of the Fir tribes, a few lines may be devoted to the eluci- 
ation of their botanical characters. All of them are arranged under the Jussieuean 
>rder — Conifer a — Cone-bearers. The flowers, male and female, are produced on 
lie same individual, or upon two trees (i. e. are monoecious or dioecious). The male 
r sterile flowers consist of a single stamen, or of a few united together. The anther 
s two or many-lobed. Fertile flower is usually in cones. Ovary in the cones spread 
pen, and appearing as a flat scale, without style or stigma. Fruit consists of a soii- 
iry naked seed, or of a cone. The order comprises two tribes. 1. The Abies or 
dine tribe , of which the genera are, 1, Finns , the true Pine; 2, Abies, the Spruce 
Tr; 8, Larix, the Larch. This last contains the true Cedar of Lebanon. Cun- 
I inghamia and Araucaria are noble trees of recent introduction. Tribe 2 contains 
be Cypresses. The genera are, Cupressus Thuja, or Arbor Vitae; Juniper us, of 
diich the common Juniper is one species ; another is the Virginian Juniper, or red 
