CHOICE AND ARRANGEMENT OF TREES 219 



but to their continuity. Each, for instance, may choose for himself 

 which he prefers the stateliness of palms or the grace of grevillias 

 and be sure of having something actual and effective. But where the 

 palm and -another tree of very different growth habit are alternated, 

 the row produces no distinct impression whatever, except perhaps the 

 suggestion of incongruity and conflict. Stateliness and grace are both 

 utterly gone. 



For the same reason tall trees should not be alternated with shrubs 

 in an avenue planting. It is admissible in making a windbreak, for 

 protection above and below, but then one is making a wall, not an 

 avenue. 



In districts of great rainfall deciduous trees should be planted 

 along the highway, rather than evergreens, that the mud on the road 

 may have a chance to dry in the sunshine. If there is a sentiment for 

 evergreens, they should be restricted to north-and-south roadways. 

 But do not attempt to meet this objection by planting deciduous trees 

 on the south side of an east-and-west road and evergreens on the 

 north side. It destroys the avenue effect entirely. 



Whatever trees are selected for any purpose except the making of 

 a hedge or windbreak, do not plant the trees too near together. If 

 they are naturally large trees forty feet is close enough on inside 

 driveways and fifty feet on the highway. Close planting with the 

 expectation of removing alternate trees, prevents the trees from 

 developing their natural beauty and gives a row of deformities later. 

 In the planting of smaller trees and shrubs reason must be used in 

 determining distance, remembering, however, that almost always trees 

 and other plants are set too near together. They look so small when 

 young that it requires strong resolution to space them properly. It 

 is a good idea to decide carefully what space they can use to advantage 

 when well grown, and then give them twice as much. 



Growing Trees and Shrubs from Seed. Although it is usually 

 better to buy a thrifty young tree or shrub than to grow it, the latter 

 can be done when one has more time than money, and it is a very 

 interesting operation. Seeds of all the more popular trees can be 

 cheaply bought from the seedsmen or may be gathered from mature 

 trees in any neighborhood by looking for them at their season. 

 One has to be careful to gather seed before the natural containers 

 are sprung open; for instance, eucalyptus seed capsules must be 

 gathered from the tree while the cap is still in place and allowed to 

 dry on a sheet or in a box which will catch the fine seed as the 

 dropping of the cap releases it. Acacia seed pod's spring open on the 

 tree and shoot out their seeds; cones with their scales apart have 

 usually discharged the seed, etc. 



