78 Landscape Gardening 



than may there be required as a plantation, and disposing 

 the whole of them so irregularly, that nothing like lines of 

 plants shall ever appear. The practice of such a system 

 need in no way interfere with the beauty and variety of the 

 lawn as seen from other parts. This may just as easily be 

 attained at the same time. Indeed, cross lines from all the 

 openings at the sides of a place will be of equal service in the 

 formation of subordinate views. This idea is illustrated in 

 figure 22. 



By a due admixture of different sorts of plants, variety may 

 be additionally realized. The habit and character of trees 

 and shrubs exhibit a wonderful amount of variation. Some 

 of them, indeed, possess unusually striking characteristics 

 and assume a most pecuHar garb. But there is something 

 of difference in all, and little peculiarities show themselves to 

 advantage in a small place. The selection of plants for a 

 garden should therefore comprise all the best sorts for which 

 there is proper room and a suitable situation. 



In attention to the heights of plants, and the color of 

 their leaves and flowers there is much variety to be found. 

 Diversity of height is as telling as variety of shape and 

 arrangement. And colors are, perhaps, even more expres- 

 sive. Certain kinds of trees produce foliage of a delicate 

 pale green, or silvery gray, or with a marked variegation. 

 Others have a dark, massive, somber look, and are evergreen. 

 Such sorts should be particularly sought after, and placed 

 where they will exhibit themselves most strikingly, and be 

 backed by others that will help to throw out their colors by 

 contrast. With flowers, too, the same measures should be 

 resorted to. The species may be arranged so that one 

 enhances the beauty of the other, and all together make a 

 lively and varied whole. The modern practice in America, 

 however, tends to a more restrained use of plants with 



