Ift6 OEI?^AMEiirTAL GARDEinKa. 



a succession throughout the whole season, while the ever- 

 green kinds are attractive both summer and winter. As 

 a rule, all the shrubs grow easily, and after transplanting 

 develop a full measure of beauty in half the time re- 

 quired by trees. With all these qualities, their adapt- 

 ability by nature to the limited areas of the majority of 

 American home gardens, may be added as a leading rec- 

 ommendation of this class. 



In employing trees and shrubs for ornament, such a 

 selection and arrangement should be aimed at, as will, 

 for the number used, ensure the greatest possible degree 

 of beauty and interest attainable. 



As we come to the matter of arranging these, we may 

 receive useful lessons from nature. In a study of natural 

 landscapes, it may be observed that trees, shrubs, and 

 plants bear relation to each other here, about as follows : 

 First, in the form of groups and thickets; second, in 

 open or somewhat scattered arrangements ; third, as 

 single, isolated specimens ; and then fourth, as being 

 wholly absent in places. If these points are kept in 

 mind when arranging our pleasure grounds, w^e need not 

 diverge far from a right course in the main features of the 

 work. Indeed, it is the attempt, either unconscious or 

 otherwise, to make a garden by limitation to some one 

 or other uses or non-uses of material as sj^ecified, tliat 

 causes so much unsatisfactory work in this line. 



Let it be noted at the outset, that the partly open fea- 

 ture of a landscape is most essential, if we would have 

 beautiful gardens. Without this, there can never be 

 anything but a confused effect, and without it the beauty 

 and dignity of the rich woody and other plants used is 

 also largely lost. The open area affords a field for view- 

 ing the garden-beauty, a space for admitting cool breezes 

 and sunshine; a play-ground for shadows, and then, most 

 important of all, that degree of general repose and 

 breadth, without which no garden can be sa,tisfactory. 



