126 LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



tion should be no greater than is necessary to pro- 

 duce the desired accent. If too great contrasts 

 appear, the accent planting will not seem in keep- 

 ing with its surroundings, and there will be loss of 

 unity. 



Accent is sometimes used to hold the eye within 

 the narrow limits of a small planting scheme, and 

 sometimes to carry it without the boundaries and 

 fix attention upon distant prospects. An example 

 of the first class, where unusual groupings, posi- 

 tions, and unique materials are used, is the Japa- 

 nese garden (Fig. 11). Probably no two elements 

 in the garden are of exactly the same shape or size ; 

 they may not even be of the same color. Each is 

 to a certain extent an accent in itself and possesses 

 a great deal of interest; but all these dissimilar 

 interests are very carefully and subtly balanced, 

 and all occur within such small confines that the 

 eye is held by the interest of the individual plant 

 shapes, colors, and grouping, and by the charm of 

 the accessories, such as stone lanterns, bridges, and 

 tea-houses, so that, indeed, there can be no thought 

 of looking outside the garden. 



Italian gardens, on the other hand, from their 

 very position on rocky hillsides, demanded that the 

 distant views form a large part of their charm, and 



