244 DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. [Auo. 



the best results. For in many cases these trees are placed so as not 

 to light up the otherwise dull masses of green surrounding them. 

 Being rarely so vigorous and quick-growing as their neighbours, 

 they are often overborne and obscured by them from the beginning. 

 They are thus effectually kept in the shade, never yielding any 

 signs of their native beauty. 



Being mostly plants of comparatively slow growth, they must 

 not be planted where they will be liable to injury from the 

 encroachments of more robust neighbours. Shelter is desirable to 

 all of them ; to many it is indispensable, but it should be placed 

 at such distance as to render the ill results of encroachment 

 impossible. They should always be placed in foreground positions 

 relatively to the shelter that is provided for them, so that their 

 characteristic effect may be seen in relief of the more common- 

 place background. They may be planted on eminences where 

 their effect may be a conspicuous feature in the immediate land- 

 scape, or in valleys where it may create sensations of surprise. 

 They should always have a background which should be a dis- 

 tinct contrast in form particularly, but also in hue with the 

 characteristics of each individual. In large and extensive surround- 

 ings, plant them in groups rather than in single trees, so as to 

 proportion the effect to the general idea of the landscape as 

 regards space. 



I now proceed to note a few such trees and shrubs in alphabetical 

 order. 



The Acer (maple). — Many of the most beautiful varieties of this 

 genus are not hardy except in the mildest and most favoured parts 

 of the country. Specially so are the elegant Japanese maples — 

 A. ;poly7norphum, Japonicum, etc. Besides, the unpronounceable 

 native names disturb one enjoying their beauty when flourishing 

 in the unheated winter garden or conservatory. 



Acer colchicum ruhrum. — This is a form of A. platanoides, the 

 Norway maple. It attains rather bold proportions, and has a line 

 symmetrical habit ; the leaves and young wood at the tips of the 

 branches are tinted bright purple — pink from their early unfolding 

 to their fall. 



Lobel's maple {A. platanoides Lohelio) has something of the same 

 purple tint in a young state or early in the season ; but though one 

 of the handsomest of maples, it cannot be regarded as striking in 

 respect of colour. 



The golden-margined maple {A. platanoides aureo marginatum) is 

 a very handsome and effective variety, the leaves of which are, as 

 the name implies, margined with golden yellow. 



The variegated sycamore {A. Pseudo-Platanus) is a strikingly 



