88 Landscape Gardening 



trees, first, in small leading groups, and then by effecting a 

 union between the groups of different character, by inter- 

 mingling those of the nearest similarity into and near the 

 groups: in this way, by easy transitions from the drooping 

 to the round-headed, and from these to the tapering trees, 

 the whole of the foliage and forms harmonize well. 



"Trees," observes Mr. Whately, in his elegant treatise 

 on this subject, "which differ in but one of these circum- 

 stances, of shape, green, or growth, though they agree in 

 every other, are sufficiently distinguished for the purpose 

 of variety; if they differ in two or three, they become 

 contrasts: if in all, they are opposite, and seldom group 

 well together. Those, on the contrary, which are of one 

 character, and are distinguished only as the characteristic 

 mark is strongly or faintly impressed upon them, form a 

 beautiful mass, and unity is preserved without same- 



55 



ness. 



There is another circumstance connected with the color 

 of trees, that will doubtless suggest itself to the improver of 

 taste, the knowledge of which may sometimes be turned 

 to valuable account. We mean the effects produced in the 

 apparent coloring of a landscape by distance, which paint- 

 ers term aerial perspective. Standing at a certain position 

 in a scene, the coloring is deep, rich, and full in the fore- 

 ground, more tender and mellow in the middle-ground, and 

 softening to a pale tint in the distance. 



"Where to the eye three well marked distances 

 Spread their peculiar coloring, vivid green, 

 Warm brown, and black opake the foreground bears 

 Conspicuous: sober olive coldly marks 

 The second distance; thence the third declines 

 In softer blue, or lessening still, is lost 

 In fainted purple. When thy taste is rnll'd 

 To deck a scene where nature's self presents 

 All these distinct gradations, then rejoice 

 As does the Painter, and like him apply 

 Thy colors; plant thou on each separate part 

 Its proper foliage." 



* Observations on Modern Gardening. 



