The Natural Style in Landscape Gardening 



imply. Indeed in purely pictorial effect I think 

 two trees are usually better than three. And I will 

 add one further suspicion, viz., that when three 

 trees or shrubs compose a group it is usually better 

 to place them in an irregular row than in an equi- 

 lateral triangle, though the amateur planter has a 

 strong tendency toward the latter figure. 



The group of three ought to be used and used 

 with considerable freedom, but it must not be con- 

 ventionalized. There can be no doubt about its 

 being too often employed. Nature herself does not 

 hold the number sacred. She does not choose three 

 trees for a group any oftener than two or four. 



The four-tree group is practically unknown in 

 artificial planting. Of course there is nothing in 

 nature against this unit; but the landscape gar- 

 dener seems to feel that four trees of a kind are 

 just enough to lose their individuality without gain- 

 ing the proper effect of the mass. 



Five trees or shrubs, however, always appeal to 

 the thought of the man who makes planting plans 

 on a drawing board. The fact that some nursery 

 catalogues quote stock by fives and tens also has its 



