76 Hints on Landscape Gardening 



gether which have in the beginning the same 

 relative height that they attain in proportion to 

 one another when full grown ; for instance, do 

 not set a young white lilac one foot high with a 

 grown Persian lilac four feet high, because the 

 relative proportions of the two would before long 

 be reversed. 



If all plants are mixed as they happen to grow, 

 young and old together, they will, of course, 

 finally come to their full stature, but for a con- 

 siderable time they will make a confused, and 

 therefore undesirable, effect. In explanation see 

 the accompanying vignette, which shows a mix- 

 ture of shrubs blooming in the spring and sum- 

 mer. 



This model can, of course, be varied indefi- 

 nitely, though a dozen different patterns might 

 be sufficient, which, as a matter of convenience 

 and approved effectiveness, might be repeated in 

 part or entire throughout the " pleasure-ground." 

 I wager that no one will notice that there are 

 only twelve different patterns, but a garden de- 

 signed in accordance with this principle will pro- 

 duce a much greater variety of effects than one 

 where the patterns are indiscriminately mixed, 

 although the latter should contain a much greater 

 variety of plants. Besides, one may, if one will, 

 take twenty-four instead of twelve such patterns, 

 but should always proceed methodically, for with- 

 out this precaution, nothing succeeds in art. 



The pattern I have given is a very simple one 

 with only the most ordinary kinds of plants that 



