84 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1900. 



naturalistic planting we should scarcely miss one plant, and a 

 dozen sorts might replace it with equally good effect. 



EXPRESSION OF A PLACE. 



A single thought or idea should dominate the arrangement of 

 the grounds. The artist will paint a face where every feature 

 contributes towards a single thought or feeling. He chooses for 

 his model a face where all feeling; is concentrated into a single 

 passion ; as love or hate, joy or anger. 



In like manner, the landscape gardener can make the home 

 grounds expressive of seclusion and tranquillity, which mean 

 rest and comfort, or he can make them convey the idea of 

 gaiety, or of wealth. 



Trees have expressions of their own. The birch, the poplar 

 and the hemlock are gay trees; round-headed trees, like the 

 maple and the linden, are restful and suggest calmness and 

 repose. In similar manner, some trees give an impression of 

 coolness, while others suggest warmth. 



The art of combining all the features of a place to express a 

 single thought or feeling, that is, to form a picture, is known as 

 landscape gardening, or landscape architecture. Some are now 

 beginning to class it with painting, architecture, sculpture, 

 poetry and music, as one of the fine arts. 



My subject naturally falls into two divisions. (1) The 

 improvement of the home grounds ; and (2) Using native plants 

 in making the improvements. The second division was intro- 

 duced for two reasons. First : For the sake of calling atten- 

 tion to the real merit of our best native trees and shrubs ; and 

 Second : Because many will be induced to attempt the adorn- 

 ment of their home grounds, if it necessitates no great outlay, 

 and our native trees and shrubs may be had for the digging 

 in most of our fields and along the highways. 



One always hesitates about recommending the exact treatment 

 for a certain piece of ground, because it is largely a matter of 

 judgment, and the preferences of the owner must be observed. 

 Besides, there are no two landscape gardeners who would lay 

 out a place in the same way, yet both arrangements might be 



