XIX 



O long as our friends profit by The order 



. . , of planting. 



our mistakes, and gam the re- 

 sult of our experience, we have 

 a compensation for our failures ; 

 but let me give this bit of advice to the 

 would-be gardener : if one is unable to se- 

 cure ample assistance, and is obliged to 

 develop a place slowly, the order of plant- 

 ing should be trees first, shrubs second, 

 flowers last of all. 



Trees may be considered as the skele- 

 ton, the framework upon which the whole 

 scheme is constructed, giving it strong 

 substantial outlines and decisive meaning. 

 Shrubbery plays the part of muscles and 

 flesh, covering the unsightly bare places, 

 rounding out the form, supplying the essen- 

 tial, and giving grace and symmetry to the 

 inclosure ; while flowers may be regarded 

 as the clothing with which the completed 

 body is finally adorned. Naturally, one 

 231 



