PLANTING, 51 



and composition may be given to it by placing light green plants in 

 graduated tints at certain positions in its course. The effect is to 

 give the idea of distance at such points, and this effect of expanse 

 will be still more promoted, if the sky-line of the tree-tops is lowered 

 with a gentle curve lowest where is the lightest shade of green. 

 Among the dark-foliaged trees may be particularised the Oak, 

 Chestnut, Beech, Elm, Austrian Pine, Spruce Fir, Cedar of Lebanon, 

 Hemlock Fir, Yew, Holly ; among the light green, Plane, Birch, 

 Ash, Acacia, Lime, Poplar, Willow, Laburnum, Larch, Abies 

 Concolor, Pinus Insignis, Abies Douglasii, Cedrus deodara ; among 

 the red greens are varieties of Maple, the American Oak, Copper 

 Beech, etc. ; among white greens are Poplars, Sea Buckthorns, etc. 



An avenue is the assumptive expression of grandeur of grandeur 

 that must be achieved at its starting-point, belong to its course, 

 and be conspicuous at its ending an essential feature of its purpose. 

 It must never be petty or inconsequential in these respects. It 

 should be planted only when importance is to be given to its line, 

 and when an imposing ending can be bestowed on it. Its line 

 should be, if possible, straight, and free from extraneous planting, 

 unless, indeed, it pass through a wood, and form part of it. Its 

 trees should be considered as belonging to, and forming part of, the 

 road. It is essentially a stately feature in its appearance ; and its 

 purpose should be harmonious with its expression. The mind is 

 apt to resent a paltry result to such promise as it impressively 

 gives, if the ending be unworthy of the beginning. When age and 

 luxuriant growth come upon it, there is a venerableness in its 

 beauty that is not otherwise obtainable by any like means. It has 

 a charm and dignity of purpose when young, if well planned, that is 

 soon apparent. But when ill planned to conduct the vision or the 

 footsteps from some point of little importance to a position of less 

 interest it bears all the penalty of a wasted resource ; and the mis- 



