MISCELLANEOUS NOTICE. 
of those who aspire to be more than mere “ hewers of wood and drawers of water.” Such persons— 
prepared by the enlightened science and literature which at the present day is so liberally diffused, 
that all who desire may attain to it—need only to enter on the study with earnestness, and many a 
hidden Rep ton, or Kent, or Brown, may be brought to light. 
I will now venture to offer a few remarks bearing more directly on the practical part of the 
subject. Distant views or objects appear to far greater advantage when looked at from beneath and 
amongst the wide spreading arms and gigantic trunks of large trees, than when viewed from an open 
space. The planter, therefore, in the formation of a new place, should bear this idea in mind; and, 
at various points where desirable views present themselves, should plant groups of such trees as are 
calculated to produce those wide-spreading arms and large trunks; the Cedar of Lebanon, the Deo¬ 
dar, and Oak, are, very applicable. The improver should also bear the same idea in mind, for he will 
often find ready to his hand, a group of trees which only require to be laid open to form at once a 
status from which many other operations may proceed, and ideas flow. Sometimes, also, he may 
think that a tree stands in his way. In such cases, before he cuts it down, let him see if the removal 
of a few of the lower branches, and thinning out others, may not answer every purpose, besides adding 
to the picturesque effect. Very often the removal of a large tree, or a group, greatly diminishes the 
amount of light and shade, (in combination, observe) ; and as this is a most important consideration, 
the greatest circumspection should be used in determining what should be entirely removed, or what 
partially so. 
Although trees with large trunks and mighty outstretched arms are amongst the grandest orna¬ 
ments in nature, and whether viewed from a distance, or whilst reposing beneath their umbrageous 
shade, are calculated to strike with awe and admiration, yet we cannot help admiring also those 
which feather gracefully down, and repose on the green turf; these, when in their proper situation, 
that is, where they offer no impediment to the view beyond, and are themselves the object of attraction, 
—are very beautiful, and therefore proper sites should be selected for groups of trees adapted for the 
purpose. This leads me to another consideration, viz., whether the art of planting the same kind of 
trees in individual groups, has had that attention paid to it which it deserves ; for, however beautiful 
single specimens may appear, there are few cases in which three or more of the same species are not 
infinitely preferable, and capable of producing a far more pleasing effect, because by this combination 
we may very often see exemplified the different characteristics which the same species present; and 
by contrast, in juxta position, these are brought more prominently under notice, at the same time that 
the unity of the group is preserved. Again, groups rather thinly distributed than otherwise, have a 
far finer park-like effect, than the dotted appearance which the same number of trees planted singly 
would produce. 
Another consideration is the due admixture of spiral with round-headed trees. As a general rule, 
the latter must and ought greatly to predominate, because a rounded outline is more agreeable to 
the eye, but here and there a group of spiral trees, such as the Abies Douglasii, the Silver Fir, and 
the common but beautiful spiral Poplar, will contribute very much to create effect by contrast; and 
at the same time arrest the attention, and relieve the eye, which grows restless when contemplating 
monotony under whatever shape it may be presented to it. 
Blkfllflttrmts Jlniitt. 
Timber of Pinas long folia .—A curious phenomenon, yet unaccounted for, is observable in perhaps one-half 
the whole number of Pinus longifolia in Kumaon. This consists in the spiral arrangement of the bark and 
woody fibre, the coils being sometimes as much compressed as those of an ordinary corkscrew, and, in some 
instances, the stem itself is thus contorted. This is attributed by the people to the action of the wind, but the 
phenomenon is apparently unknown in Gurwhal, &c,, where the winds are equally violent; while at Kumaon 
we find specimens with straight and with spiral fibres mixed up in the same forest, and trees of other genera, 
in company with these are never so affected, nor does the peculiarity extend to the Conifers; of the upper ranges. 
A careful dissection, under the microscope, would perhaps show it to be already present in the embryo. There is 
a strong prejudice against the use of the twisted timber, which may be well founded, where it is required for 
planks; but when applied, unsquared, for roof-trees, it appears to stand well, bearing great weights for many 
years; nor in Kumaon does the practice or the experience of the people at all bear out the very inferior estimate 
of the timber formed by some of our officers in Gurwhal. From the facility of obtaining it, little other wood is 
used in great part of the province, where, with ordinary care, it is calculated to last a couple of generations.— 
Major Madden , in Journ. Agric. and Hort . Soc. of India. 
