GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 165 



UNITY AND HARMONY. 



A unity of the objects of a garden for contributing to 

 a complete whole, a harmonizing of these, one with an- 

 otlier, and a balance of the different features and sections, 

 are important things to secure in planning an ornamental 

 garden. Where marked features and bold contrasts are 

 sought, there should also be agreeable, easy transition 

 from one to another, without abrupt breaks to interfere 

 with the harmony. In all large works abounding in de- 

 tails, we crave for some such comprehensive plan, where- 

 by the total may be retained while surveying the part. 



BREADTH AND EXTENT. 



Nothing is more desirable to secure in a garden than 

 an air of breadth and repose, such as nature so often re- 

 veals in her attractive landscapes. This can be done by 

 keeping some conspicuous areas clear in their center, ex- 

 cepting grass, and skirting them about with masses of 

 woody and other growths. Natural landscapes usually 

 suggest the idea of unlimited extent beyond what the 

 eye sees at any point. The same thing is quite possible 

 to secure in our gardens, by managing them to show 

 ample breadth in parts, and some extended vistas be- 

 tween the farthest limits, and then breaking the views 

 along the outlines, by so planting that there may seem 

 to be large areas unseen beyond projecting groups. 

 There is such a thing as so managing an acre, that it 

 shall seem as large as two or more acres. 



Where outside scenery, like mountains, water, neigh- 

 boring landscapes, etc., can be ''^appropriated" to con- 

 tribute to one's own garden, by so arranging the interior 

 as to allow such scenery to show at its best from the gar- 

 den, or even seem to be a part of it. This can often 

 easily be accomplished, and by all means let it be done. 



