140 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



brilliant colours, viz : orange and scarlet, are produced by 

 maples. Even in Europe they are highly valued for this 

 autumnal appearance, so different from that of most of the 

 trees of the old world. Very beautiful effects can be produced 

 by planting the Scarlet and Sugar maples in the near neigh- 

 bourhood of the ash, which, as we have already noticed, as- 

 sumes a fine brownish purple ; and of the sycamore, which is 

 yellow, and some of the oaks, which remain green for a long 

 time : if to these we add a few evergreens, as the White pine 

 and hemlock, to produce depth, we shall have a kind of fairy 

 group, harmonious and beautiful as the rainbow. 



When the maple is planted to grow singly on the lawn, or 

 in small groups, it should never be trimmed up ten or twenty 

 feet high, a very common practice in some places, as 

 this destroys half its beauty ; but if it be suffered to branch 

 out quite low down, it will form a very elegant head. The 

 maple is well suited to those scenes expressive of milder beau- 

 ty, as they unite to a considerable variation of surface, a 

 pleasing softness and roundness of outline. In bold or pic- 

 turesque scenes, they can be employed to advantage by inter- 

 mingling them with the more striking and majestic forms of 

 the oak, etc., where variety and contrast is desired. The 

 European sycamore, which is also a maple, has a coarser 

 foliage, and more of strength in its growth and appearance: 

 it perhaps approaches nearer in general expression and effect 

 to the plane tree, than to our native maples. 



It is unnecessary for us to recommend this tree for avenues, 

 or for bordering the streets of cities, as its general prevalence 

 in such places sufficiently indicates its claims for beauty 

 shade, and shelter. It bears pruning remarkably well, and 

 is easily transplanted, even when of large size, from its na- 



