THE VALUE OF WHITE FLOWERS 357 



Among vines we have the white wisteria, several 

 white clematis, the moon-flower, and other Ipomeas, 

 many climbing and trailing roses, the English polygo- 

 num, the star cucumber, etc., so that there is no lack 

 of this harmonizing and modifying colour (that is not 

 a colour after all) if we will but use it intelligently. 



Aside from the setting of flower to flower, white 

 has another and wider function. As applied to the 

 broader landscape it is not only a maker of per- 

 spective, but it often indicates a picture and fairly 

 pulls it from obscurity, giving the same lifelike round- 

 ness that the single white dot lends in portraiture to 

 the correctly tinted but still lifeless eye. 



Take for instance a wide field without groups of 

 trees to divide and let it be covered only with grass, 

 no matter how green and luxuriant, and there is a 

 monotonous flatness, that disappears the moment the 

 field is blooming with daisies or snowy wild asters. 



Follow the meandering line of a brook through 

 April meadows. Where does the eye pause with the 

 greatest sense of pleasure and restfulness? On the 

 gold of the marsh marigolds edging the water? or on 

 the silver- white plumes of shad-bush that wave and 

 beckon across the marshes, as they stray from moist 

 ground toward the light woods? Could any gay colour 



