ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 
103 
to afford the mind more true pleasure, than the improver who 
lavishes thousands without it, creating no other emotion than 
surprise or pity at the useless expenditure incurred ; and the 
Abbe Delille says nothing more true than that, 
“ Ce noble emploi demand un artiste qui pense, 
Prodigue de genie, et non pas de depense.” 
From the inspection of plans like these, the tyro may learn 
something of the manner of arranging plantations, and 
of the general effect of the natural style, in particular cases 
and situations. But the knowledge they afford, is so far be- 
low that obtained by an inspection of the effects in reality, 
that the latter should, in all cases, be preferred, where it is 
practicable. In this style, unlike the ancient, it is almost 
impossible that the same plan should exactly suit any other 
situation than that for which it was intended, for its great 
excellence lies in the endless variety produced by its appli- 
cation to different sites, situations, and surfaces j developing 
the latent capacities of one place and heightening the charms 
of another. 
But the leading principles, as regards the formation of 
plantations, which we have here endeavoured briefly to elu- 
cidate, are the same in all eases. After becoming familiar 
with these, should the amateur landscape gardener be at a loss 
how to proceed, he can hardly do better, as we have before 
suggested, than to study and recur often to the beautiful 
compositions and combinations of nature, displayed in her 
majestic groups, masses, and single trees, as well as open 
glades and deep thickets ; of which, fortunately, in most parts 
of our country, checkered here and there, as it is, with 
beautiful and picturesque scenery, there is no dearth or 
