58 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



mistakes, it requires an inventive mind to devise new 

 arrangements for groups ; bnt a variety of arrangements 

 they certainly should have in any scheme not intention- 

 ally formal. 



Single trees or shrubs appear to great advantage 

 when properly placed, and If in all respects good, they 

 add sensibly to the composite beauty of the scene. A 

 single i)lant will naturally receive more and better atten- 

 tion when standing by itself than though it were in a 

 group with others. For this reason it should have 

 greater individual excellence, if possible. It should be 

 faultless, if that can be. There are many positions 

 about any extensive grounds in which single trees or 

 shrubs will be acceptable units of the composition. The 

 judgment of the designer must point these out; but we 

 may take note that they will usually be comparatively 

 clo^e to the observer, so that the single plants will always 

 be under critical examination. Such places are, then, 

 to be reserved for specially choice specimens. Any rare 

 or remarkable plant, — not monstrous and deformed, — 

 should be given such a place of prominence. And every 

 specimen plant should be remarkable for its individual 

 2^erfections of good culture. 



There are a great many general and common forms 

 given to groups, but their classification and discussion 

 do not belong here. It is sufficient to iterate that 

 this is another point at which conspicuous variety is 

 both possible and i)roper. 



There arc, of course, some objects which are seen 

 both near by and at a distance. But in the majority of 

 instances an object, — for instance, a tree, — will be most 

 often seen from the same distance. If it stand at the 

 back of a wood belt, with numerous smaller trees between 

 it and the distant roadway, it may be fairly considered 

 in the background. On the other hand, if it stand 

 close beside a much frequented path or just before the 



