ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 
117 
their leaves and flowers expand, the soils they love best, and 
their various habits and characters, are all subjects of the high- 
est interest to him. In short, as a love of the country almost 
commences with a knowledge of its peculiar characteristics, 
the pure air, the fresh enamelled turf, and the luxuriance and 
beauty of the whole landscape ; so the taste for the embel- 
lishment of Rural Residences, must grow out of an admiration 
for beautiful trees, and the delightful effects they are capable 
of producing in the hands of persons of taste, and lovers of 
nature. 
Admitting this, we think, in the comparatively meagre state 
of general information on this subject among us, we shall 
render an acceptable service to the novice, by giving a some- 
what detailed description of the character and habits of most 
of the finest hardy forest and ornamental trees. Among those 
living in the country, there are many who care little for the 
beauties of Landscape Gardening, who are yet interested in 
those trees which are remarkable for the beauty of their 
forms, their foliage, their blossoms, or their useful purposes* 
This, we hope, will be a sufficient explanation for the ap- 
parently disproportionate number of pages which we shall 
devote to this part of our subject. 
