COLOUR. 



"7 



COLOUR. 



of complementary or contrasting hues to 

 impart the charm of softness and subdued 

 beauty. The cool colours alieady noticed, 

 and neutrals that is, mixed hues or plants 

 of no very decided colours are often used 

 with the happiest effect to soften and tone 

 down the influence of very brilliant tints. 

 Much exception has been taken to the style 

 of furnishing flower-gardens in masses of 

 colour on the ground of the monotony or 

 flatness of surface it induces. But it should 

 be borne in mind that smoothness and 

 evenness of surface is one of the elements 

 of beauty. Besides, to enjoy beauty in 

 masses, the eye must be able to see it at a 

 glance. Nothing must be too high to 

 intercept the line of vision, and break up 

 unity of expression and oneness of effect, 

 compelling us to look at it in detail only. 

 This also constitutes one of the chief charms 

 of Dutch, or sunk gardens. Standing at a 

 considerable elevation above them, the eye 

 sees, and the mind comprehends the whole 

 at a glance ; and if they are well furnished, 

 the result is the highest amount of pleasure 

 with the least effort. However, those who 

 desire more variety in the sky outline of 

 their gardens, can introduce tall trained 

 plants of scarlet geraniums, brugmansias, 

 heliotropes, fuchsias, cassias, &c. ; or tro- 

 pseolums, convolvulus, and other climbers, 

 as centres to their beds. 



As ribbon borders are still in favour 

 with many, it may be pointed out that the 

 following is something like a natural prism 

 or rainbow : 



Here we have black, dark blue and pea- 

 green in succession ; sapphire-blue between 

 two scarlets, pea -green between black and 

 blue all unpleasant combinations of 

 colour. The dark and light colours are 

 arranged indiscriminately, without any 

 regard to effect. The following arrange- 

 ment of the same colours will be found 

 more agreeable : 



In this arrangement, the dark and 

 brilliant colours, such as orange and 

 scarlet, occur at regular intervals, all the 

 inharmonious contrasts of the last diagram 

 are avoided, and the colours are arranged, 

 as nearly as the materials will admit, 

 according to the laws of contrast : light 

 and dark blue are opposed to orange ; 

 scarlet is contrasted with green, and green 

 with violet. 



In pictorial arrangement, variety of 

 colour is obtained by the inti eduction of 

 different hues of the same colour, and of 

 different degrees of brightness. For ex- 

 ample, although it is proper to repeat 

 certain colours, as red for instance, it is 

 not necessary that all the reds in a picture 

 should be a bright vermilion-colour: on 

 the contrary, the picture will gain in beauty 

 if one should be of a dull earthy red, a 

 third crimson, and so on, through all the 

 scale of colour. Mr. Mclntosh, in his 

 " Book of the Garden," remarks upon this 

 thus : " This rule will be of assistance to 

 gardeners, as it extends the coloured 

 material at their disposal. The principle 

 of repetition is quite in accordance with 

 the laws of harmonious arrangement." 

 The following is an example, the colours 

 used being scarlet, orange, black, white, 

 blue, green, and some of the semi-neutral 



