Practical Considerations 159 



Sometimes, when persons have thoroughly imbued them- 

 selves with the notion that specimens are the chief thing to 

 be desired in a small place, they gradually acquire the impres- 

 sion that nothing else is proper to be encouraged and that 

 everything should be made into a specimen. This opinion, 

 however, if fully acted upon, would lead to as much sameness 

 and dullness as if nothing but dense and variegated masses of 

 plants were cultivated. The most beautiful combinations 

 and the most exquisite variety will result from letting a few 

 plants of different heights and characters grow together in 

 some parts as they do in a state of nature, where bushes and 

 trees often mingle their forms and are linked into closer union 

 by the tangling clematis, lusty briar, or luxuriant bramble. 



II. Thickets. — Towards the boundaries of a place the 

 plants in a border, especially if it be narrow, will have to be 

 treated still more generally, and with a less regard to their 

 individual appearance. Here the aim must be to obtain a 

 good undergrowth if there be trees, or to permit the forma- 

 tion of thickets where there are only shrubs. They may Uke- 

 wise be parts of an inner plantation or group, where peculiar 

 denseness is wanted to cover some defect, or to make the 

 walk more perfectly private; and in these the same charac- 

 teristics should be cherished. 



Thickets, besides being useful as screens to various objects, 

 will be interesting both for the variety and beauty. They 

 will form a great change from the more open method of cul- 

 ture, and exhibit much beauty of connection and contrast. 

 There will be a luxuriance and a freeness and an indefinite- 

 ness about them which will not fail to please. It is not to 

 be assumed, however, that such masses are intended to be 

 as thick as the plants will stand on the ground, or to be left 

 to a pure state of nature. In that case the stronger would 

 soon overpower the weaker and the better sorts would die 



