276 THE ADVANTAGES OF PLANTING IN GROUPS 



grounds of a few acres ; where the outside appearances should 

 not he forgotten, although the views from the house windows, and 

 internal walks ma}' he deemed of more parimount importance. But 

 even here grouping is decidedly preferahle to mixed or what may be 

 more correctly termed higgledy-piggledy planting. Where, however, 

 the space to he operated upon is very limited, it is seldom advisable 

 to plant more than one tree or shrub of the same sort, and that 

 should generally be associated or grouped with its marked varieties 

 or kindred species. 



3. Grouping with the same and allied hinds. — By far the most 

 generally commendable mode of group planting, is that of associat- 

 ing species with their varieties, and others belonging to the same or 

 allied generae. Here, however, the question of economy woidd come 

 in with hindering, if not prohibitory effect, were it necessary that all 

 the kinds should be the same or nearly the same in number. But 

 this is by no means the case ; for the kindred kinds deemed ultimately 

 to be most remunerative may predominate so far as to produce the 

 desired landscape effect, the others being introduced as side groups 

 of greater or less sizes, proportionate to the original cost of plants, 

 and their ultimate commercial value. All that are intended to be 

 permanent specimens should be allowed plenty of room for their full 

 development ; and they should be arranged so that their decreasing 

 heights will show off the taller kinds behind, and bring down the 

 general outline to connect agreeably with the adjoining ground 

 surface. Where allied dwarf grouping kinds will thrive as under- 

 wood, they are the most suitable to plant as such, and next to them 

 shrubs with somewhat similar foliage; for nowhere should the under- 

 growth contrast harshly or unpleasingly with the general mass 

 when viewed from the outside, unless when only of such low 

 heights as to associate with the grass and other natural ground 

 herbage. As an example of regular and hard outline grouping to be 

 avoided, a plantation of fully 50 years standing may be instanced 

 on the steep rugged slopes of Kinnoull Hill, near Perth, where the 

 different kinds were originally grouped in straightish-sided, square, 

 and parallelogram-like fashion, except where some of the outlines are 

 broken into by the bases of the magnificent precipices which form 

 the preponderating features of the hill. Thinning out, and the 

 irregular spreading tops of the reserved trees, have tended in some 

 measure to tone down the rigid straightness of outline which the 

 groups originally presented ; but they still and will remain as blots 

 in landscape arboriculture. Another although less objectionable 



