36 OBSERVATIONS ON PLANTING ORNAMENTAL TREES. 



and belles standing up for a quadrille or country dance. Where the 

 situation will permit, four or six lilacs should be grouped in one 

 place, and as man} laburnums in another, so as to give effect in 

 various parts by a mass of colour. 



The guelder rose should appear as if escaping from the dark bosom 

 of evergreens, and not a plant should be set in the ground without 

 adding to the harmony of the whole. A shrubbery should be planted 

 as a court or stage dress is ornamented, for general effect, and not 

 particular and partial inspection. Boldness of design, which seems 

 to be more the offspring of nature and chance than of art and study, 

 should be attempted ; but though boldness is what the planter should 

 aspire to, all harshness, or too great abruptness, must be avoided, by 

 a judicious mixture of plants whose colours will blend easily into one 

 another. 



The most beautiful shrubs should occupy the most conspicuous 

 and prominent places. For instance, a projecting part of the plan- 

 tation should be reserved for the purple rhododendron, the flaming 

 azalea, and other bog plants. Here it must be observed, that unless 

 proper soil be provided) for these American plants, the cost of the 

 shrubs will be lost, as they will soon decay when not placed in earth 

 congenial to their nature. With these shrubs may be planted the 

 hardy kinds of heath, as the same soil suits both species. AVith 

 respect to evergreens, considerable judgment is required in order to 

 relieve their uniform appearance during winter. This may be done 

 by skilfully arranging different kinds, and those with variegated 

 leaves, or such as retain their brilliant berries during the cold 

 months. 



However, a well planted shrubbery depends not so much for its 

 beauty on the expense or rarity of the plants it contains, as on the 

 selection of trees and shrubs which succeed each other in blossoming 

 throughout the vear, or whose various-coloured fruits srrace them for 



O ml ' O 



the longest [duration of time. We shall, therefore, not dwell upon 

 those plants alone that are the ornaments of the summer season, but 

 also point out some that will contribute to the gaiety of morning and 

 evening of the year; so that the gloom may be banished at all times 

 as much as possible from the grove, and nature's repose shortened 

 between the plaintive good-night of autumn and the cheerful good- 

 morrow of spring. 



( To be continued.) 



