In some situations, where great masses of wood, and a large expanse of open lawn prevail, the contrast is too violent, and the mind becomes dissatisfied by the want of unity; we are never well pleased with a composition in natural landscape, unless the wood and lawn are so blended that the eye cannot trace the precise limits of either; yet it is necessary that each should preserve its original character in broad masses of light and shadow; for although a large wood may be occasionally relieved by clearing small openings to break the heaviness of the mass, or vary the formality of its outline, yet the general character of shade must not be destroyed. In like manner the too great expanse of light on a lawn must be broken and diversified by occasional shadow, but if too many trees be introduced for this purpose, the effect becomes frittered, and the eye is offended by a deficiency of composition, or, as the painter would express it, of a due breadth of light and shade. Now it is obvious that, in newly formed places, such a redundance of trees will generally remain from former hedgerows, that there can seldom be occasion to increase the number of single trees, though it will often be advisable to combine them into proper groups.
