PLANTING 133 



is always to be seen at a distance, as in large parks, 

 far from the driveways, detail is of no conse- 

 quence, and any subtle plant characteristic will be 

 lost. Therefore, in distant planting, it is neces- 

 sary to seek for bold effect. If informal planting 

 is used in a foreground planting scheme, as a bor- 

 dering for driveways, the individual interest of the 

 plants may be emphasized, and a great deal of at- 

 tention given to detail. 



( Formal planting consists always of regular 

 forms regularly placed, but in a majority of cases, 

 though this is not usually understood, the regular- 

 ity is obtained by selection rather than by clipping. 

 A certain amount of regularity must be the char- 

 acteristic of a formal scheme. Straight lines and 

 angles are emphasized on account of their greater 

 precision, while the informal type lays larger em- 

 phasis upon curves and rounded masses. 



In the formal type little is left to the imagi- 

 nation. Few unexpected arrangements appear. 

 The whole scheme is visible from one point, in- 

 stead of unfolding gradually to the view. I This 

 emphasis of lines and angles may be attained by 

 the position of plants, spacing so as to define the 

 outline sharply by the selection of plants of natu- 

 rally regular shape, and still further by keeping 



