ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREST-TREES. 
433 
most obvious is the mode of branching, or ramification, of a tree or 
shrub. The importance of this characteristic is so perceptible, that, 
even in winter, trees may be distinguished by it; and the observer of 
nature needs not the foliage to perceive the striking difference between 
a poplar, an oak, a beech, or a willow. 4 The branches of the Lombardy 
poplar form acute angles with the main stem ; both are straight, giving 
the tree a pyramidal appearance, which, in contrast with others, ren¬ 
ders it ornamental in plantations. The weeping willow, on the other 
hand, f stooping as if to drink/ if in its prime of beauty, gracefully 
waves its tresses over the ruffled waters, or, as an old pollard on the 
bank of the stream, looking like a giant, with huge distorted head, can¬ 
not be mistaken. The beech, darting round its convoluted spokes in 
irregular order, with its wiry branches and smooth bark, forms another 
character; while the gnarled and knotted oak, stiff, rigid, and motion¬ 
less even amidst the most furious blasts of winter, merely moans a gruff 
defiance to the storm. 
“ It is important to notice these graphic outlines traced upon trees, 
because, as Baron Humboldt has well observed, f it is vegetation that 
principally characterises the features of a country, and distinguishes it 
from another." The granite rock, the basaltic column, and the lime¬ 
stone ridge, are the same in Iceland and Sweden as in Mexico and 
Peru; but who could mistake the vegetation of the two regions ? 
Even animals seldom appear in quantities sufficient to give a feature to 
the scene, and their continual restlessness removes them from our view; 
but trees affect our imagination by their magnitude and stability, 
flowers by the brilliancy of their colours, and herbs by the freshness 
of their verdure. 
“ If trees have their distinguishing characteristics even amidst the 
gloom of winter, how much more their varied effect when clothed in 
the vivid umbrage of summer! This, indeed, is noticeable by all who 
have an eye to appreciate sylvan scenery, and is frequently alluded to 
by poets. Some, as the willow, are f wannish grey; ’ others, as the 
Populus alba , silver white; of deeper green the elm, and deeper still 
the oak. Numerous other trees might be mentioned, more or less 
obviously claiming the attention; but all are familiar with the silvery 
feature given to a landscape, where the waving willows of the brook 
predominate, and are agitated by the wind. Compare the gloomy 
aspect of a pine-forest, or even of a single pine or fir, recognisable over 
*a country for miles, with the splendid party-coloured and golden um¬ 
brage of the beech in autumn. The forest scenery of Great Britain 
presents features most interesting to the lover of nature; and, without 
VOL. V.-—NO. LXV. 3 K 
