l62 



IRISH GARDENING 



the ubiquitou.s shrubbery is more otten a 

 tangled mass than a happy symmetrical group. 

 In the rock g'arden it is still more rarely met 

 with. Here, in association with stone and a 

 probably purely artificial structure, many new- 

 considerations arise, calling; lor distinct and 

 definite treatment ; and the habit of a plant 

 needs to be as carefully studied as its season 

 of flower and coloiu' of foliage if it is to be in 

 strict harmony with its surroundings. Thus it 

 will generally be necessary to consider, irrespec- 



g'rouped about b\- .\nemone Pulsatilla, and one 

 will remember Cornus eleg^antissima as a stan- 

 dard rising from a carpet of Viola gracilis. 

 These simple things attract the eye at once, 

 and demonstrate the delightful combinations 

 a\ailable where shrid-)s are appropriately associ- 

 ated with suitable subjects. Definite arrange- 

 ments will naturally yary with the scope of the 

 ground at disposal. Xo hard and fast lines 

 need be, or indeed can be, laid dovyn. Indi\idual 

 taste must be left to reap its own reward ; but 



ANOTHKK \'IEW in the KoCK C'.AKDEN at RowaI.I ANE, SAINTFUiLIl, C'O. OOWN. 



tiye of flower, the habit of growth and the 

 general ofVect of shrubs when yiewed in con- 

 junction with the bulbs and herbaceous plants, 

 such as the Lily, Narcissus, or Primula, by 

 which they may be surrounded. Many a good 

 shrub unfitted to stand alone in comparative 

 isolation may be the one thing needed to com- 

 plete an ofFectiye group, just as some colours, 

 garish in themselyes, create a pleasing har- 

 mony in association with others. 



.^fter all, judicious combinations o\' plants, 

 whether for flower or foliage, are the main 

 factors in good garden eflTects. Herberis aqui- 

 folium alone, for instance, looks well, but it looks 

 infinitely better when acting- as a backgrountl 

 to I'rimula cashmiriana. Similarly, .Magnolia 

 stellata becomes still more attractiye when 



whateyer its limits, success will only be eyohed 

 from wide experience. This much may, how- 

 ever, be said — promiscuous arrangement will 

 not do. Some definite design is necessary. 

 The outstanding positions in the garden may 

 at the outset he taken in hand with some dis- 

 tinct intention In \ie\\ , and each shoukl be 

 separately deyeloped, and shoidd bear a suit- 

 able relationship to its neighbour and be in 

 s\ nip.itln with it. .\o group, whether in 

 coKuu' ol flower or habit of growth, shoidd 

 predominate at the expense o( another ad- 

 joining, liach should assist and be supple- 

 mentary to the other, creating a thoroughly 

 homogeneous whole oyer whicli the eye trayels 

 smoothly w-ithout abrupt interruptions resulting 

 from a series of ingenious and too startling 



