THE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE. 35 



the early development of the row attention should be 

 given to favor the slow growing specimens and to check 

 the strong. After a row of trees of a single species is 

 well started, a satisfactory uniformity will usually result 

 without further special attention. It is, of course, not 

 desirable to try to make each elm tree along an avenue 

 the exact counterpart of some model;* but with trees 

 of more precise forms even this effort is worth while. 

 There are some species of trees having forms almost 

 architectural in themselves, such as the Lombardy pop- 

 lar ; and for purely ornamental purposes such trees may 

 be used with marked success along avenues. Other 

 trees, as arbor vitaes, which can be clipped into distinctly 

 geometrical forms, might undoubtedly be used with 

 abundant satisfaction in certain cases for the same 

 purposes. 



Clipped trees and shrubs are frequently seen in the 

 little gardens about our city and country residences. 

 But among the numerous specimens of this sort which 

 one finds, it is hard indeed to find one which really adds 

 some value to the scene. They are usually mere freaks 

 of the gardeners' imagination. They should be severely 

 discouraged. But in a consistently developed Italian 

 garden, judiciously placed among harmonious surround- 

 ings, these clipped plants may become beautiful and 

 dignified. The clipped hedges of the Italian villas are a 

 most delightful part of the compositions. In some of 

 these, sculptured columns are set at regular distances, 

 fitting snugly into the mass of the hedge plants; and 

 thus the architectural effect is accented and improved. 



Topiary work was extremely fashionable among the 

 gardeners of England and the continent in the years pre- 



* Special effort is required, however, to make a good avenue of 

 elms. The diversities of form are often so serious as to detract mate- 

 rially from tlie beauty of tlie row. This difficulty may be overcome, 

 When the work is of sufficient importance, by planting well selected 

 graftea trees. See also Chapter X, Part III. 



