58 Farmers' Bulletin 1087. 



that can be combined in this way are spoken of as " complementary 

 colors " and are shown opposite one anothet in figure 62. If a bright 

 color is looked at intently for several seconds and then the eyes are 

 closed the first impression is that of the complementary color. In 

 practice, it is found that if with a large mass of bright color the 

 complementary color is used or some of the colors near it on the 

 chart, the result is restful to the eye and the impression pleasing. 

 On the other hand, the impression is unpleasant if the colors indi- 

 cated on the chart midway between the complementary colors are 

 used with either. One who is sensitive to colors and makes a study 

 of flower colors, however, can often successfully make daring color 

 combinations that should not be attempted by those not experienced 

 and not color sensitive. In ordinary planting it is good practice to 

 use a color with those colors near it on the chart or with its comple- 

 ment on the opposite side, avoiding those shown at right angles. The 

 colors found in any botanical species are safe to use together, but 

 flowers of different species OE hybrids of them, though of the same 

 genus, are not always safe ; as, for example, not all kinds of roses are 

 suited to grow together. Where the aim is to get thrifty growing 

 plants about the farmstead rather than to make the most striking 

 display possible, there is little danger of making an inharmonious 

 combination, as nature with its preponderance of green tends to 

 avoid a too garish display. 



In addition to locating clumps of shrubbery at appropriate places 

 on the grounds, the placing of the various kinds of plants in the 

 clumps has an important relation to the ultimate results. It is 

 usual not to plant many clumps of a single kind. A mixture of 

 plants of similar size in each clump gives the best results. One 

 clump may be composed of one-half of one variety, one-fourth of 

 another, and the rest of other kinds, while another can be nearly 

 equally divided between two kinds, and still another can be three- 

 fourths of one kind and the remainder of any other combination. 

 Where a large quantity of one variety is used in a clump, it is well 

 to have at least a few of the same plants in some of the near-by 

 groups. In nature, trees and shrubs are mostly found in large quan- 

 tities, either almost alone or well mixed with other plants. As the 

 boundaries of these areas are reached, the plants are found in more 

 or less scattered clumps, until the place is reached where there are 

 none. In a similar way the plantings should be in comparatively 

 large masses with scattered plants in other near-by clumps, as shown 

 in figure 63, where the arrangement is indicated by different numbers 

 for different kinds. The plants should be set at irregular distances 

 apart, so as to avoid being in lines in anv direction. 



