288 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



of restricted colouring, yet it left nothing to be desired in the way of 

 richness and brilliancy, and well served its purpose as a dignified 

 ornament, and worthy accompaniment to the fine old house. 



" Contrasts — How to be Used. — The greater effects being 

 secured, some carefully arranged contrasts may be used to strike the 

 eye when passing ; for opposite colours in close companionship are not 

 telling at a distance, and are still less so if interspersed, their tendency 

 then being to neutralize each other. Here and there a charming 

 effect may be produced by a bold contrast, such as a mass of orange 

 Lilies against Delphiniums or Gentians against alpine Wallflowers ; 

 but these violent contrasts should be used sparingly and as brilliant 

 accessories rather than trustworthy principals. 



" Climbers on Walls. — There is often a question about the 

 suitability of variously coloured creepers on house or garden walls. 

 The same principle of harmonious colouring is the best guide. A 

 warm-coloured wall, one of Bath stone or buff bricks, for instance, is 

 easily dealt with. On this all the red-flowered, leaved, or berried 

 plants look well — Japan Quince, red and pink Roses, Virginian 

 Creeper, Crataegus Pyracantha, and the more delicate harmonies of 

 Honeysuckle, Banksian Roses, and Clematis montana, and Flammula^ 

 while C. Jackmanni and other purple and lilac kinds are suitable as 

 occasional contrasts. The large purple and white Clematises harmonise 

 perfectly with the cool gray of Portland stone ; and so do dark-leaved 

 climbers, such as White Jasmine, Passion Flower, and green Ivy. Red 

 brickwork, especially when new, is not a happy ground colour ; per- 

 haps it is best treated with large-leaved climbers — Magnolias, Vines, 

 Aristolochia — to counteract the fidgety look of the bricks and white 

 joints. When brickwork is old and overgrown with gray Lichens, 

 there can be no more beautiful ground for all colours of flowers from 

 the brightest to the tenderest — none seems to come amiss. 



" Colour in Bedding-out. — We must here put out of mind 

 nearly all the higher sense of the enjoyment of flowers ; the delight in 

 their beauty individually or in natural masses ; the pleasure derived 

 from a personal knowledge of their varied characters, appearances, and 

 ways, which gives them so much of human interest and lovableness ; 

 and must regard them merely as so much colouring matter, to fill such 

 and such spaces for a few months. We are restricted to a kind of 

 gardening not far removed from that in which the spaces of the design 

 are filled in with pounded brick, slate, or shells. The best rule in the 

 arrangement of a bedded garden is to keep the scheme of colouring as 

 simple as possible. The truth of this is easily perceived by an ordinary 

 observer when shown a good example, and is obvious without any 

 showing to one who has studied colour effects ; and yet the very op- 

 posite intention is most commonly seen, to wit, a garish display of the 



