68 THE BOOK OF EVEEGEEENS. 



the contrast exhibited between them and the round head- 

 ed class of trees, so that, when two or three Pines or Firs 

 are inserted in the centre of such a group, they produce a 

 beautiful effect. A fine specimen of the Common Hem- 

 lock Spruce, when planted on an open space, with generous 

 cultivation, becomes the perfection of beauty in a tree. 

 The rich, dark green foliage, and graceful drooping branch- 

 es, waving and glistening in the passing breeze, create an 

 impression of quiet elegance. 



A frequent error, and one utterly devoid of true taste, 

 is that of planting trees in straight lines. We have in our 

 recollection more than one lawn on which the trees are 

 planted so strictly in right angles, as to remind one of a 

 geometrical figure. In an orchard or garden of fruit trees, 

 this system is expected, and indeed is proper ; but on a 

 lawn, it should never be tolerated. Another erroneous 

 practice is that of planting large-sized trees in small door- 

 yards, without taking into consideration their ultimate 

 size. There are a number of evergreens belonging to the 

 smaller class of trees, or large shrubs, that would answer 

 the purpose equally well, which would not grow out of 

 proportion. 



No undeviating rules can be laid down to instruct the 

 planter how to arrange his trees correctly ; but general 

 principles may be given to prevent confused and meaning- 

 less effects. To form plantations according to correct prin- 

 ciples and carefully executed ideas belongs to the person 

 of taste. 



We conclude this subject by one more extract from the 

 writings of Bayard Taylor, in which he thus alludes most 

 eloquently to the intelligent landscape-gardener: "In his 

 eyes all its features are, to a certain extent, plastic. That 

 which he cannot change or remove, he can throw into per- 

 spective, or so conceal by the intervention of other forms, 

 that its individual ugliness shall become a component part 

 of the general beauty. To contracted spaces he can im- 



