A History of British Forest-trees: Indigenous and Introduced"Prideaux John Selby, naturalist and High-Sheriff of Northumberland, devoted himself to forestry, entomology, and ornithology. Selby is best remembered as the first author/artist to attempt to produce a set of life-sized illustrations of british birds, the "Illustrations of British ornithology", London: 1821-34. Selby embodied the experience of nearly forty years of forestry (chiefly gained on his plantations at Twizell) in this present work."--Antiquarian bookseller's description. |
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History of British Forest-Trees: Indigenous and Introduced (Classic Reprint) Prideaux John Selby No preview available - 2017 |
A History of British Forest-Trees, Indigenous and Introduced Prideaux John Selby No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
Abietina alba appears Arboretum Britannicum bark beauty become Beech Birch branches Brit Britain buds campestris catkins Chesnut clayey colour cones cultivation decay deciduous diameter dimensions districts durable effect England English Elm extensive favourable feet high feet in circumference finest Flor flowers foliage forest frequently genus grafting green ground growing growth hedge Holly Hornbeam hundred inches indigenous inferior insects introduced Jardine Hall larch larva larvæ leaves LINN loam Loudon LOUDON'S Arb maturity mentioned mixed plantations native nature nearly north of England numerous nursery observed Oriental Plane ornamental tree picturesque Pinaster Pinus sylvestris planted planter Poplar possesses produce profit propagated purposes rapid remarks rich roots scantling scenery Scotland seed shoots Silver Fir Sir T. D. Lauder situations SMITH'S Eng soil species specimens spring Spruce stem surface sycamore thin three feet thrive timber timber tree trunk Twizell upwards variety Willow wood Wych Elm
Popular passages
Page 189 - O Woman ! in our hours of ease Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, And variable as the shade By the light quivering aspen made; When pain and anguish wring the brow, A ministering angel thou!
Page 369 - Many reasons have been assigned for the frequent occurrence of the yew in our churchyards: but it seems most natural and simple to believe that, being indisputably indigenous, and being, from its perennial verdure, its longevity, and the durability of its wood, at once an emblem and a specimen of immortality, its branches would be employed by our pagan ancestors, on their first arrival here, as the best substitute for the cypress, to deck the graves of the dead, and for other sacred purposes.
Page 46 - Druidism prevailed the houses were decked with evergreens in December, that the sylvan spirits might repair to them, and remain unnipped with frost and •cold winds, until a milder season had renewed the foliage of their darling abodes.
Page 109 - This defect, however, appears chiefly in "the skeleton of the elm. In full foliage, its character is better marked. No tree is better adapted to receive grand masses of light. In this respect, it is superior both to the oak and the ash.
Page 367 - An attachment to colour, as such, seems to me an indication of false taste. Hence arise the numerous absurdities of gaudy decoration. In the same manner, a dislike to any particular colour shows a squeamishness, which should as little be encouraged. Indeed, when you have only one colour to deal with, as in painting the wainscot of your room, the eye, properly enough, gives a preference to some soft pleasant tint, in opposition to a glaring bold one ; but, when colours act in concert (as is the case...
Page 15 - The spring tints of the Sycamore are rich, tender, glowing, and harmonious ; in summer its deep green hue accords well with its grand and massive form, and the brown and dingy reds of its autumnal tints harmonise well with the mixed grove to which they give a fine depth of tone.
Page 140 - Germany, no young farmer whatsoever is permitted to marry a wife, till he bring proof that he is a father of such a stated number of walnut trees ; and the law is inviolably observed to this day, for the extraordinary benefit which this tree affords the inhabitants.
Page 415 - ... round it, we have looked upon it as a very sublime object. People who have not seen it in its native climate and soil, and who judge of it from the wretched abortions which are swaddled and suffocated in English plantations...
Page 127 - For our parts, we consider the wych, or Scottish elm, as one of the most beautiful trees in our British sylva. The trunk is so bold and picturesque in form, covered, as it frequently is, with huge excrescences ; the limbs and branches are so free and graceful in their growth, and the foliage is so rich, without being heavy or clumpy as a whole, and the head is generally so finely massed, and yet so well broken, as to render it one of the noblest of park trees...
Page 462 - Alps ; and, so far as our opinion of its effect in landscape may go, we can only say that, with us, it is so mentally associated with the grandeur of Swiss scenery, that the sight of it never fails to touch chords in our bosom which awaken the most pleasing recollections. What can be more truly sublime...