15G 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
has much grandeur and richness in its depth of hue and 
massiness of outline ; and the regular, rounded, pyramidal 
shape, is something so different from that of most of our 
indigenous trees, as to strike the spectator with an air of 
novelty and distinctness. The great beauty of the Horse- 
chestnut is the splendor of its inflorescence, surpassing that 
of almost all our native forest trees : the huge clusters of 
gay blossoms, which every spring are distributed with such 
luxuriance and profusion over the surface of the foliage, 
and at the extremity of the branches, give the whole tree 
the aspect rather of some monstrous flowering shrub, than 
of an ordinary tree of the largest size. At that season there 
can be no more beautiful object to stand singly upon the 
lawn, particularly if its branches are permitted to grow low 
down the trunk, and (as they naturally will as the tree ad- 
vances) sweep the green sward with their drooping foliage. 
Like the lime tree, however, care must be taken, in the 
modern style, to introduce it rather sparingly in picturesque 
plantations, and then only as a single tree, or upon the 
margin of large groups, masses, or plantations ; but it may 
be more freely used in grounds in the graceful style, for 
which it is highly suitable. When handsome avenues or 
straight lines are wanted, the Horse-chestnut is again ad- 
mirably suited, from its symmetry and regularity. It is, 
therefore, much and justly valued for these purposes in our 
towns and cities, where its deep shade and beauty of blos- 
som are peculiarly desirable, the only objection to it being 
the early fall of its leaves. The Horse-chestnut is very 
interesting in its mode of growth. The large buds are 
thickly covered in winter with a resinous gum, to protect 
them from the cold and moisture ; in the spring these burst 
open, and the whole growth of the young shoots, leaves, 
