4G4 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



colours should be so blended with the prevailing green as to remove the monotony 

 which at present obtains. That the effect of colour in the landscape would be 

 generally appreciated, was once brought home to me in a peculiar manner. I 

 was riding in company with some friends through the park at Chatsworth, in 

 Derbyshire. Suddenly we sighted a tree with reddish-brown leaves rising from 

 the greensward, and surrounded at some little distance with the usual green trees. 

 Remote as it was, we could not at the moment make it out, but all admired it, 

 and agreed that it was at once telling and beautiful. Led by admiration as much 

 as by curiosity, we approached it, and discovered a dead tree retaining its reddish- 

 brown withered leaves. 



I think that any cultivated observer who may dwell ever so briefly on the 

 tree scenery of Great Britain, will admit that the contrasts of colour, weak and 

 little varied as they generally are, present to him one of its most pleasing features. 

 If, then, the slight existing variation of colour, restricted principally to the 

 contrast between light and dark green, is admitted to be an element of beauty, 

 may we not justly infer that we should gain something if we varied and increased 

 the contrasts by the use of stronger and more distinct colours? I think, then, 

 that I may fairly assume that, on a free and full consideration of this subject, it 

 will be generally admitted that a greater variety of colour would be an improve- 

 ment in the tree scenery of our English gardens, parks, and landscapes. 



I have next to show that the object I seek is attainable. The arrangement of 

 the colours of flowers in the flower-garden has of late years been worked out with 

 wonderful skill and effect. What were our flower-gardens in this respect thirty 

 years ago ? I remember that results predicted then were considered impossible 

 by the many, although they have been accomplished, and more than accomplished, 

 long ago. Now, as far as I am aware, no one has yet applied the same principles 

 in the arrangement of trees and shrubs with coloured leaves. I have been told 

 that it cannot be done. But after a long study of the question and numerous 

 experiments, I have come to a different conclusion, which I submit with all 

 deference to those who think otherwise. I believe that here, as in the flower- 

 garden, there only needs a beginning, and progress will be rapid and success 

 certain. 



Many years ago I formed a collection of pictorial trees and shrubs, and planted 

 them closely together, with the view of watching their development and eradi- 

 cating those kinds which might prove undesirable on more mature acquaintance. 

 This plan I vigorously pursued, and now find myself in possession of a select 

 list, which I believe is sufficient to carry out all that I shall advance. 



In addition to the ordinary or prevailing green, I find that I have five colours, 

 or tones of colour, with which to work — 1. Light green ; 2. Dark green ; 3. 

 Reddish purple ; 4. Yellow or golden; 5. White or silvery; — and these may be 

 combined in a variety of ways. Dark-bluish green has a good effect when placed 

 in contrast with light-yellowish green ; white with dark green ; reddish purple 

 with light green ; reddish purple with yellow ; yellow with dark green. And 

 these contrasts by no means exhaust our resources. I merely quote them 

 from among a number of experiments which I have actually tried and 

 found agreeable to my taste. I have, indeed, no intention here of laying 

 down any precise or definite rules for the application of these principles ; 

 I aim at no more than to show that the materials in colour exist, leaving 

 their combination to be dealt with by the ingenuity and industry of a 

 cultivated taste. It would be chimerical to suppose, unfair to expect, that any 

 person taking this subject in hand without previous study, or without the fullest 

 acquaintance with the materials which exist — some of them newly introduced — 



