62 About Trees, Shrubs and Climbing Plants for S.A. 



<b) In this picture there are no straight lines or sharp angles; 

 no straight drives or walks if they can be avoided ; no great 

 masses of a single species of tree, although groups of one 

 species are allowable. Nature has no right angles in her 

 make-up, and only rarely does one find amassed pure species 

 in one place. Curves and graceful irregularities, variety in 

 colour, light and shade; these are the primal foundations of 

 Nature's beauty spots. Our beauty spot, the home, should 

 be made on like foundations. 



<c) Aim for diversity of colour and shape of foliage. This is of 

 far greater importance than floral effects. Flowers are brief 

 and soon gone. Foliage, may be a joy all the year round. 

 The colours of flowers may easily clash and glare. But the 

 various shades of green, the bronzes, reds, browns, and greys 

 of healthy trees never clash. The variations in green alone, 

 say in a group of Pines or Cypresses of different varieties, 

 is wonderful. And what possible mass of even the most bril- 

 liant flowers can hope to compare with the autumn tints of 

 Virginian Creeper, Rhus glabra, Cryptomeria elegans, the 

 common Oak and other deciduous types, the rich effect of 

 the berried mountain ash or " Fire Thorn '' ; these and not 

 our flowers, give us the most perfect and delicate art-tones 

 of Nature, ranging from the Pine needle to the Plantain ; 

 from the graceful drooping Weeping Willow to the erect 

 Poplar ; from the sweep of Ranhinia galpini to the stately 

 Deodar. 



<d) Avoid shearing and pruning. These are only allowable in 

 the utility grounds. Occasionally a branch may have to be 

 lopped off because of storm and tempest. Sometimes the 

 early growth of a shrub or tree may be improved by remov- 

 ing a double leader. But, generally speaking, if the trees 

 have been chosen well and are well planted, they will grow 

 beautifully without any help from us. Pruned trees, or those 

 cut into fancy figures and shapes, are an abomination and 

 an eyesore. 



(e) The more delicate species those which actually belong to 

 warmer climate or easier conditions should be placed in 

 well considered positions, warm nooks and corners, with 

 shelter from the cold winds of Winter or the hot winds of 

 early Spring. Even among the larger trees there are some 

 species which are all the better for shelter, such as Grevillea 

 robusta, which breaks readily if exposed to storm winds. In 

 the colder districts, many of the sub-tropical plants will 

 thrive if the climate is modified for them by the provision 

 of shelter from winds. 



In choosing positions to suit the more delicate species, it 

 is well to remember that hollows in the land are cold spots ; 

 that a hillside is generally warm ; that the worst frost effect 

 Is felt just where the rising sun first strikes. At Johannes- 

 burg and Harrismith one can find such plants as Petrseas, 



