98 COMMON SENSE GARDENS 



recommend it, but one should be satisfied to pos- 

 sess a few good specimens, which if planted well 

 will be much more enlightening than a large and 

 variegated collection. Simplicity is always dig- 

 nified and in good taste; and the grounds should 

 never be on a more elaborate scale than the 

 house. 



The planting of evergreen trees at Arlington has 

 been mentioned in another chapter, but it was so 

 effectively done that I cannot help referring to it 

 again as an example of successful grouping and 

 colouring. Several varieties of much the same 

 form, but of different heights and shades of green, 

 were combined in groups among the deciduous 

 trees in such a way that the attractive qualities 

 of each were brought out and accented. Ever- 

 greens were linked in an oft-broken chain, connect- 

 ing one plantation with another; and gathered 

 together lightly in groves to break the steepness 

 of the hillside, so that the eye is relieved when it 

 instinctively ascends to the top of the hill on which 

 the mansion stands. There are no great contrasts, 

 but the various trees are exceedingly well-blended, 

 and that is the secret of planting evergreens, to 



