CHAPTER XXI 



THE NEW TREE BEAUTY 



THE true use of trees in gardens is a great study for the 

 garden artist. They must not be meagre, but on the 

 other hand they must not be overwhelming. It some- 

 times happens that one who would build a house and 

 make a garden is able to acquire land that is carrying a 

 certain number of trees. The architect and builder may 

 have a passing thought for the trees, but they will not 

 have the deep reverence which springs from close study 

 and intimate companionship. They would be ready to 

 leave a tree standing which did not obtrude itself on 

 their plans, but they would give short shrift to one that 

 did. 



These men should be reminded that a house can be 

 built quicker than a tree. It is easier to find a fresh site 

 for a house than to fill up the blank caused by the felling 

 of a great tree. 



There must be at least a fourfold thought about a 

 tree : 



(1) Can we spare it as a screen ? 



(2) Can we spare it as a shade ? 



(3) Can we spare it as a picture ? 



(4) Does it help us with a vista ? 



And when we have said " yes " to the three first 

 questions and " no " to the last, we may still ask our- 



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