26 



GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



I 



COLOR ARRANGEMENT IN THE GARDEN 



X' tlu' c-arlv 'iiiiutiLs, wlicii I \\v>\ Uinu-d my attentimi to .Harden- 

 ing, the only serious consideration given to color schciues was 

 that devoted to the planning of Smnnier beds. But the remem- 

 brance of vivid contrasts produced by masses of red Cieraniums 

 and blue Lobelias serves to indicate that the art of color arrange- 

 ment was not in an advanced state. We may therefore regard 

 the science of color planning as practically non-existent in those 

 days. One certainly saw many pleasing color combinations in the 

 perennial border and shrubbery, but these were more the result 

 of accident than forethought. Nowadays the conception of happy 

 harmonies or striking contrasts in the herbaceous border— and, 

 indeed, in any portion of the garden — is regarded as principal 

 rather than secondary considerations. The wise gardener of 

 to-day selects with the utmost care such plants a.s will most fit- 

 tingly associate with the natural surroundings. This careful plan- 

 ning' of color effects is, of course, the keynote of successful gar- 

 den building. The guiding factors in the creation of pleasing color 

 combinations are naturally the colors of the flowers and the period 

 of their display. Nobody would attempt to form color schemes 

 without accurate knowledge of these characteristics. To some 

 people the gift of blending colors seems to be a natural one. To 

 others the taste is an acquired one. In either case there a tew 

 guiding principles which might with advantage be borne in mind 

 by those who contemplate laying out new gardens. 



Broadly speaking, there are two methods of forming color pic- 

 tures— namely, by harmonies or by contrasts, llicre are times 

 when either may be successfully employed : on the other hand. 

 harmony may be the only permissible arrangement. Flower-bor- 

 ders which are always more often seen at close range should, as 

 a general rule, Ik? treated with harmony, while distant effects may 

 with safety be made bv striking contrasts. For the most part, I am 

 of the opinion that harmonious effects arc more pleasing to the 

 eye. They arc certainly more restful. It is quite true that con- 

 trasts have a value of their own. They are useful in certain cases 

 in enhancing the color value of many flowers. For instance, the 

 juxtaposition of purple Michaelmas l")aisies and Red Hot Pokers 

 seems to compel special admiration, while emphasizing the rich 

 coloration of each species. But a garden is, after all. a place of 

 rest for most of us, and how can restful peace be more felt than 

 in a garden which is filled with the soothing influence of quietly- 

 blended colors. 



Whatever scheme be adopted, there should be a sufficient mass 

 of each color to get the true value. The old plan of putting plants 

 about singly is quite inadciiuate in the formation of color pictures. 

 Bold groups of each subject yield an all-compelling beauty which 

 is not easily attained in borders made up of inconspicuous color 

 patches. There is no doubt that the feeling of rest which seems 

 to pervade many gardens is far more due to the harmonious colora- 

 tion than to any other influence. The value of color in house 

 decoration obtains increasing recognition. Few people nowadays 

 select their wall-papers without the most careful regard to the 

 aspect of the room, the furniture and carpetings, and the use to 

 which the room is to be put. Why not extend the same thoughtful 

 observance of color value to our gardens? The best teacher we 

 can have in the matter of color effects is Nature. We have only 

 to look around us to find everyday lessons from which first- 

 hand information may be obtained. The grey clouds floating across 

 an azure sky suggest at once a happy combination of grey-foliagcd 

 plants with' blue Delphiniums or Anchusas. Again, the blending 

 of colors on the wings of certain butterflies or on the feathers of 

 the peacock are quite suggestive of what may be done in the \yay 

 of flower association. There are. indeed, hosts of examples which 

 may be seen in the country-side and aptly repeated on a smaller 

 scale in the garden. — Gardening. Illustrated. 



unless perhaps it be a mere jet of water rising from the surface 

 of an informal rocky pool. Yet this is, I think, not free from 

 objection. 



Garden statues, again, when exhibited are frequently admired 

 and it is fortunate, perhaps, that their price prevents more fmding 

 their way into small sulnirban gardens. Greek and Roman statu- 

 ary are quite out of place, unless the mansion and garden sur- 

 rounding are in the classical style. 



Lastly, one too often sees white w-ood seats placed where their 

 brilliaT'.ce and luster strive to outshine the white flowers near 

 them, and they become the most prominent feature in the whole 

 garden. The beauty of a stone seat is, that if left to itself, 

 it will soon tone down and merge into the garden picture. 

 It will become a beautiful part of it, if the design has been well 

 chosen, but it will not dominate it. 



It is a safe rule to follow, to allow plants and flowers to pro- 

 vide the chief notes of form and color in our gardens and not rely 

 on brightly painted seats and colored awnings tmless we are deal- 

 ing w'ith a garden plannefl and planted on Japanese lines. — South 

 African Cardeiiliig and Country Life. 



THE USE AND ABUSE OF GARDEN ORNAMENT 

 'T'ilKRI-" is certainly this advantage in a pergola made of natural 

 ^ tree trunks and boughs that it will not clash with any style 

 of building near it. aufl it can always be well strengthened by 

 almost invisible metal supports. It must be rcmemljcred also that 

 a pergola camint begin anywhere and end nowhere in particular, 

 but should serve a definite purpose, such as to form a shady ap- 

 proach to the main garden from the dwelling house or the ap- 

 proach to some garden-house. 



It is difficult to understand why roses and <lelicale climbers 

 should be given support, heavy enough to carry a Pullman train 

 and why gardens should have been disfigured by the erection of 

 structures resembling an overhead railway. It is quite time that 

 a protest should be made against the vogue for ncedlesslv I'.eavy 

 and clumsy pergolas, which posterity will smile at. 



What has I)cen remarked about the position of the pergola ap- 

 plies no less to the fountain. The public do need a reinintier that 

 these delightful ornaments cannot fitly be placed just anywhere. 

 However much .M)mc may dislike the formal garden, such an arti- 

 ficial creation as a fountain seems to demand formal surroundings. 



DEPARTMENT OF BOOK REVIEWS 



The M.\rket Review Nursery Work Series, by F. J. Fletcher, 

 F. R. H. S. Benn Brothers, Ltd., London, England. 



The name of the publishers, who have brought out a splendid 

 lot of books for gardeners and nurserymen, including some Eng- 

 lishmen's works most highly prized by Americans, is itself a 

 guarantee of the good quality of this series of six very nicely 

 made booklets. The first and the second volumes which have 

 come to hand, are an earnest of worthy treatment to be looked 

 forward to with eagerness. The limited size, for X'ohune I 

 consists of only 75 pages and \"i.ilume II of a few less, bans all 

 expectation of exhaustive completeness; but there is virtue in 

 the clear and painstaking presentation of all fundamental prin- 

 ciples w-hich a book making claim to exhaustiveness of topics is 

 too apt to overlook, or to assume as known. Not many genera 

 of plants are treated in Volume L which is entitled Glasshouses 

 and the Propagation of Plants; but the methods found in Eng- 

 land to be most successful in the management of greenhouses 

 are detailed clearly ; so too the handling of seedlings and cuttings. 

 .■\nd it is certainly better to give an exhaustive treatment of a 

 few plants, as is done very satisfactorily, than to attempt to 

 condense the treatment of practically all plants grown commer- 

 cially under glass ; with the methods once mastered the i>eculiar 

 points of difterence in the production of certain plants can readily 

 be ascertained from common printed sources and even by a 

 little exprimentation. 



Volume II is of the same general character and quality as 

 the preceding. Under the title Special Glasshouse Crops, it 

 handles specifically, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Grapes, Sweet 

 Peas, Forcing Bulbs, Lifted Chrysanthemums and Catch Crops 

 and their Economic Value. The final chapter of the book, which 

 is given up to the subject named last in the preceding list, is 

 particularly valuable for its su.ggestions of how to make the 

 most of whatever space is available. But in the reading of this, 

 as is of course the case with foreign books in general, allowances 

 must be made for dilTerences of climate and national customs 

 and preferences. 



CouNTRV Life Booklets. Country Life. Ltd., London, and 

 Charles Scribner's Sons, New 'S'ork. 



The publishers of this series, whose periodical is The Gardeners' 

 Chronicle of London, are in a position to know the leading 

 authorities and successfully to solicit their co-operation. Of tin- 

 three volumes examined the one, S'<'eel I'eas, is the work of 

 Horace J. Wri.ght, F. H. S., First Honorary Secretary of 

 the National Sweet Pea Society: a second I'iolas and l^ansies, 

 has been made by Howard H. Crane, F. L. S.. author of The 

 Book of the Pansy, I'iola and Violet, while the third, .Intir- 

 rhinums and I'entstemons, has been written by A. J. XtacSelf, 

 one of the directors of the Chalk Hill Nurseries, in which the 

 two plants are specialties. The titles of other booklets, selected 

 from the list of three dozen or more, are Storing I'egetatdes and 

 fruits, Bee-Keefiins, IFintcr ligg Production, Home Decorating, 

 The Dog, Milliards, Ihnv to Know the Birds. How to Prune 

 Roses and Pruit Trees, The Greenhouse, Pot Plants. These and 

 the other subjects, confined each one to the average of 30 pages 

 composing one of the little and very inexpensive paiier-covered 

 volumes, have been dealt with eminently well, if conjecture may 

 be made from a reading of the three specimens. The entire 

 .series ought, un(|ueslionably, to be given a place in the library 

 of every country residence and sonic of the booklets would be 

 of more real serviceability in the management of a eily giirdin 

 than many other books of greater cost. 



