ON WOOD AND PLANTATIONS. 
109 
easily found in many parts of the Union where the crude 
and formal taste of proprietors, by leading them to plant 
long lines of Lombardy poplars, has had the effect of 
destroying the beauty of many a fine prospect and 
building. 
Conical or oblong-headed trees, when carefully employed, 
are very effective for purposes of contrast , in conjunction 
with horizontal lines of buildings such as we see in 
Grecian or Italian architecture. Near such edifices, 
sparingly introduced , and mingled in small proportion 
with round-headed trees, they contrast advantageously 
with the long cornices, flat roofs, and horizontal lines that 
predominate in their exteriors. Lombardy poplars are 
often thus introduced in pictures of Italian scenery, where 
they sometimes break the formality of a long line of wall 
in the happiest manner. Nevertheless, if they should be 
indiscriminately employed, or even used in any con- 
siderable portion in the decoration of the ground 
immediately adjoining a building of any pretensions, 
they would inevitably defeat this purpose, and by their 
tall and formal growth diminish the apparent magnitude, 
as well as the elegance of the house. 
Drooping trees, though often classed with oblong- 
headed trees, differ from them in so many particulars, 
that they deserve to be ranked under a separate head. 
To this class belong the weeping willow, the weeping 
birch, the drooping elm, etc. Their prominent charac- 
teristics are gracefulness and elegance ; and we considei 
them as unfit, therefore, to be employed to any extent 
in scenes where it is desirable to keep up the expression 
of a wild or highly picturesque character. As single 
objects, or tastefully grouped in beautiful landscape, they 
