CHAPTER III 

 GROUPING OF TREES AND SHRUBS 



IF this subject were considered with only a reason- 

 able amount of thought, and the practice of it con- 

 trolled by good taste, there is nothing that would 

 do more for the beauty of our gardens or grounds. 

 Nothing can so effectually destroy good effect as the 

 usual senseless mixture of deciduous and evergreen 

 shrubs that, alas ! is so commonly seen in gardens 

 a mixture of one each of a quantity of perhaps 

 excellent things planted about three feet apart. There 

 would be nothing to be said against this if it were the 

 deliberate intention of any individual, for, as a garden 

 is for the owner's happiness, it is indisputably his 

 right to take his pleasure in it as he will, and if he 

 says, " I have only space for a hundred plants, and I 

 wish them to be all different," that is for him to 

 decide. But when the mixture is made from pure 

 ignorance or helplessness it is then that advice may 

 be of use, and that the assurance may be given that 

 there are better ways that are just as easy at the 

 beginning, and that with every year will be growing 

 on towards some definite scheme of beauty, instead 

 of merely growing up into a foolish tangle of horti- 

 cultural imbecility. 



If the intending planter has no knowledge it is 



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