CHAP. IX.] PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 261 



would not admit of a complete one, a lady 

 might take some genus or some small natural 

 order to illustrate (as for example the genus 

 Kibes, or the order Berberideae), and fill up the 

 rest of her grounds with hollies or other ever- 

 greens, so as to form a background to the orna- 

 mental trees. The genera Magnolia and Lirio- 

 dendron form the hardy trees of another small 

 order, which it w T ould be easy to cultivate, taking- 

 care to plant Magnolia conspicua, and any 

 other kind that produces its flowers before it 

 does its leaves, w T ith a rich background of ever- 

 greens. The almond, which flowers in the same 

 manner, should be placed in a similar situation ; 

 and standard roses may also be so placed as to 

 have the unsightliness of their long naked stems 

 greatly lessened by a mass of evergreens be- 

 hind. 



Another very interesting mode of arrange- 

 ment, where the ground will admit of it, is to 

 plant particular situations with certain trees 

 which are not to be found in any other part of 

 the grounds ; and thus to form what the land- 

 scape-gardeners call scenes. Thus, for instance, 

 there might be an American ground, formed in 

 some shaded hollow, and planted with rhodo- 

 dendrons, azaleas, and kalmias. All these plants 

 require a light peaty soil, and a shady and some- 

 what moist situation. In another part of the 

 pleasure-grounds there might be some alpine 

 scenery, with pines and firs, and particularly 

 larches, interspersed with a few birch trees, 

 planted in dry sandy soil, on hilly ground. The 

 deciduous cypress and weeping willow should 

 be near w T ater, as should the common willow, 



