296 LANDSCAPE-GARDENING 



(2) they insure varied effects of light and shade ; 



(3) they make the average distance from the ceme- 

 tery entrance to the lots shorter than if one follows 

 straight lines and turns right angles. 



An open tract, to begin with, is in many ways 

 preferable to one that is thickly wooded, but groups 

 of trees or single specimens that have broadened out 

 in a natural way \vould be very valuable, since they 

 would help to take away the naked, forbidding ap- 

 pearance of land newly planted with young trees. 

 On a vacant area, it is usually advisable to plant 

 some large trees for the sake of immediate effect. 

 These can be grouped about the entrance, a fork in 

 the drives, the top of a hill, the margin of a lake, or 

 other distinguishing position. The objection to a 

 piece of land covered with thick woods is that the 

 necessary thinning to secure sufficient open space will 

 leave tall spindling trees, unused to exposure. These 

 are not very attractive in themselves, are very likely 

 to die, and are liable to be blown down. If there are 

 thick woods in the land selected, the trees chosen to 

 remain should be those that are healthiest and have 

 the lowest branches. Occasionally, the trees removed 

 may be cut off at the ground so that sprouts will spring 

 from the roots and form beautiful bush-like specimens. 



