PEEFACE 



unscientific discussions of landscape gardening 

 wMcli at the present time are appearing in un- 

 precedented numbers. 



It cannot be denied that landscape has a dis- 

 tinctly emotional value, but book-discussions of 

 this nature have always seemed futile to the au- 

 thors. Though considerable in bulk, these books 

 are of slight real value because of their unsystem- 

 atic recording of principles, and limited range. 



This book is based largely upon lectures offered 

 in the depart, .ent of landscape gardening at the 

 University of Illinois. The subject of plant color 

 and the theory of color planting is given to the 

 public with some reluctance. In spite of much 

 time and study it still seems inadequate. The sub- 

 ject is, however, presented from a new standpoint 

 and it is hoped that other workers in the same field 

 may make much further progress along the way 

 here pointed out. 



Through this book the terms landscape architect, 

 landscape gardener, and landscape designer, have 

 been used interchangeably. There are strong par- 

 tizans for each of these appellations, who can see 

 no good in the employment of the other two. In 

 the voluminous articles published in support of 

 these views, nothing has appeared so convincing 



