FIG. 322. 



THE FORMAL ARRANGEMENT OF TREES. 



ings, as shown in the accompanying illustrations (111. Nos. 325 and 326). Owing to the 

 possibility of keeping the pleached trees clipped to a definite size, the alley may be 

 adapted to almost any position or shape, and, indeed, may be used in almost any case 

 where a pergola would be suitable but where its expense is considered prohibitive. 



Another avenue-like arrangement which may be usefully employed in almost every Groves of 

 garden is the grove of small trees. A very usual form, and one which has a very small trees. 

 prim appearance suited to use in the formal garden, 

 is that provided by a double row of mop-headed 

 acacia, which are perfectly hardy in a great many 

 parts of England, but which seldom thrive in the 

 northern counties of Scotland. Many othe,r trees may, 

 of course, be used, and some of our most attractive 

 flowering species are eminently suitable, such as the 

 mountain ash or rowan, snowy Mespilus, thorns, the 



Siberian and John Downie crabs, almond, the double-flowering and common cherry and 

 Prunus Pissardi. Some foliage trees, too, are very useful, such as fern-leaved beech, 

 cut-leaved alder and several of the maples, the two last, and also the lime and 

 Turkey oak, being capable of being trimmed to any size. For groves or alleys which 

 are to be used in the Winter, tall pyramidal-headed Portugal laurels, especially the 

 small-leaved variety, sweet bays, bay-leaved and golden queen hollies on long clean 



stems are suitable, and should be arranged to run 

 outwards from the South front of the house, i.e., 

 running North and South so as to be sunny and 

 sheltered from East winds. Such groves were often 

 planted in old gardens and might be added to scores 

 of existing ones. 



It adds considerably to the effect of a grove if it 

 can be made to terminate in some architectural feature, 

 such as a sheltered seat or summer-house, or when the 



walk is to continue beyond the end of the colonnade, by an arrangement of seats under 

 an arbour covered with climbers, as shown in illustration No. 322. It is, however, much 

 better if a summer-house can be arranged to close the vista, and the connecting walks 

 be made to join at right angles, as in illustration No. 323. The space between the 

 rows of trees may be arranged as a grass walk or as a gravelled path with grass on 

 either side (111. No. 324) ; the former being the more artistic while the latter is more 

 serviceable and easier to keep in order. A better 

 but more expensive method is to have a paved walk, 

 with the same arrangement of trees. In spacing out 

 the trees, grass, hedges and walks, due regard should 

 be paid to the character of the trees to be planted. 

 Thus if thorn or crab are to be used, the distance 

 between the hedges should not be less than twenty- 

 five feet, the width of the walk being not less than 



six feet. Grass looks extremely well at the sides if properly trimmed, but it should be 

 kept clear of each hedge by at least nine inches, and a small circular soil bed should be 

 formed round each tree. If, as the trees grow larger and produce more shade and 

 drip, the grass becomes thin and impoverished, a kerb may be put at each side of 

 the walk and the space previouly occupied by grass be planted with St. John's Wort, 

 Rhus racemosa, Gaultheria Shallon, G. procumbens, Vinca, or common Irish ivy. 

 St. John's Wort and the various Vincse of which the common periwinkle is one, are 

 the most effective of these shade-loving plants for the purpose. 



FIG. 323. 



253 



