60 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



between it and the observers. For tliis reason it must 

 not have a bristling sKy line if smooth and round headed 

 smaller trees are to appear in front of it. And the oj^po- 

 site mistake must be guarded against. One time with 

 another, the background may best be darker than those 

 groups which intervene between it and the usual j^oint 

 of view. This rule cannot always be adhered to, for it 

 would force all dark colored species out of the fore- and 

 middle-ground ; but the reverse presentation must always 

 be looked upon as an undesirable concession to other 

 necessities. 



In the foreground, where all plants are under com- 

 paratively close scrutiny, only those should be used 

 which will bear such examination. Flowering shrubs 

 and herbaceous plants may be used here. In most cases 

 plants for the foreground must be small ; and though 

 we like to have large trees next the walk so that we can 

 enjoy their shade, and though this demand should be 

 met, to a degree, yet a tree so placed adds nothing to 

 the picture, and too many such trees shut off the view 

 entirely. It is a common fault, in the plantings along 

 drives and walks, that they do not give a satisfactory 

 view of the landscape. 



There is a great wealth of medium sized trees and 

 large shrubs which look well in middle-ground. Of 

 these are the buckeyes, altheas, lilacs, and the interest- 

 ing koelreuteria. The middle-ground is an advanta- 

 geous place for the exhibition of all tree specimens. If 

 the form of a tree specimen is to be admired it will be put 

 far back in the middle-ground ; if it is the beautiful foli- 

 age, it Avill come to the nearer middle-ground. Middle- 

 ground plantings sometimes serve the purposes of back- 

 ground to foreground plantings; but this is not often 

 the case, and it is an undesirable arrangement. 



It not infrequently occurs that there are beautiful 

 objects visible from the grounds under treatment and 



