50 LANDSCAPE GARDENINQ. 



The charm of the purely natural style, especially in cer- 

 tarn situations, lies in its utter quietness and peacefulness. 

 A horizon full of Lombardy poplar exclamation points 

 is not in unity with such ideas. But the sky Ime may 

 he diverj^ified more gently. It may be carried high on 

 one side by a mass of heavy woods ; it may sink low on 

 another side,, to the surface of a lake ; and in one or two 

 places it may i^erhaps be accentuated with the spire-like 

 poplars. This is a matter in which good taste must be 

 exercised ; for while very few observers will analyze a 

 scene and itemize the excellencies and defects of the sky 

 line, the most unsympathetic mind may be keenly, 

 though perhaps uncon scion sh\ alive to both. 



Very few people have any conception of the multi- 

 tudinous species and varieties of trees, shrubs, climbers, 

 flowering and foliage plants at the command of the hor- 

 ticultural architect. AYith twenty sorts of maples, and 

 as many oaks ; with poplars in all shapes and sizes ; 

 with dozens of varieties of lilacs, scores of spiraeas and 

 hundreds of roses; with evergreens and deciduous trees; 

 fastigiate and weeping trees ; dark-colored and yellow 

 trees; broad-leaved and cut-leaved trees; big trees and 

 little trees ; with other trees, shrubs, climbers and hardy 

 plants literally ''too numerous to mention," the gar- 

 dener need never want for variety of material. To know 

 these resources and to understand the possibilities of 

 each species Jind variety is to master the landscape gar- 

 dener's useful alphabet. 



*'From the artistic point of view, trees have three 

 characteristics which may be separately studied. — form^ 

 texture and color."* AVe have already noticed the gen- 

 eral vnriety in forms available to the landscape gardener; 

 but it is worth while, in the present connection, to 

 emphasize the attractive variety of forms which meet 



♦Mrs. Schuyler Van Rensselaer. "Art out of Doors.** 



