ORNAMENTAL PLANTING FOR PARKS, ETC. 123 



is a common practice to value the decorative work in planting, on 

 any given site, in general proportion to the degree in which it is 

 obviously artificial, new, or peculiar. Thus clumps of trees and 

 shrubs, or beds of flowers and foliage plants, are located in 

 conspicuous places, Avithout fitting relation to the natural con- 

 ditions of the landscape. 



What is needed, therefore, is popular education with respect to 

 the beauty, adaptability, and arrangement of the component 

 parts of successful design in landscape and gardening work. 



There are fully one thousand different species and varieties of 

 ornamental trees and shrub's, besides great numbers of hardy 

 flowering plants, all possessing distinct features of beauty, that 

 will thrive in the greater part of the United States. It is an in- 

 timate acquaintance with the habit, growth, and ultimate develop- 

 ment of the greater part of these that insures to the landscape 

 gardener success in selecting, planting, and grouping the varied 

 specimens, so as to combine all the essential elements, in form, 

 foliage, and color, of a pleasing landscape. The lack of such an 

 acquaintance with the varied characteristics of planting material 

 is one of the most fruitful sources of failure in planting our 

 parks and public grounds. 



In employing trees and shrubs for ornamental planting, such 

 a selection and arrangement should be made as will, for the 

 number iised, insure the greatest possible degree of beauty and 

 interest attainable. 



In a study of natural landscapes, it may be observed that trees, 

 shrubs, and plants bear relation to each other : 



First, in the form of groups and thickets, or dense woods. 



Second, in open or somewhat scattered arrangements. 



Third, as single, isolated specimens. 



Fourth, as being wholly absent in places. 



The partly open feature of a landscape is most essential, if we 

 would have beautiful parks or public grounds. This treatment 

 affords an opportunity for viewing the grounds at varied points; 

 for admitting cool breezes and sunshine ; for the effects of light 

 and shadow ; and, most important of all, that degree of general 

 repose and breadth, without which no park or public ground of 

 any extent can be altogether satisfactory. The prevailing idea 

 in planting would seem to suggest the bringing together such 

 specimens of trees or shrubs as possess contrasting qualities ; 



