COLORADO 



three of the latter lie between the six original colors, the 

 result will be a circle of twenty-four divisions, having 

 the effect of a rainbow. This will perfectly illustrate the 

 principle of color harmony and color discord. Besides 



523. Color phases in flowers. 



the opposing colors which harmonize by contrast, there 

 are neighboring colors which harmonize by analogy or 

 harmony. For instance, any four or five colors lying 

 side by side in the circle are bound together harmoni- 

 ously by reason of their near relationship. Therefore, 

 all these four or five colors may be combined — and na- 

 ture does combine them -with aesthetic results. But 



the bond of relationship is broken, and the eye is dis- 

 turbed by the aggressiveness of two colors between 

 which there is evidently no bond of sympathy. It would 

 be safe to say, therefore, that the circle demonstrates the 

 fact that its colors situated at right angles with each 

 other are discordant, and those lying nearly parallel 

 with each other are harmonious. 



This is the theoretical side of color harmony. The 

 practical side is scarcely different; it simply modifies the 

 theory. Brilliant blue and orange, which are theoretically 

 harmonious, are scarcely as agreeable in each other's 

 company as the rule would imply. The trouble, however, 

 lies with the brilliancy. The golden calendula and the 

 deep blue-purple aster in association are rather violent 



analogy; hyacinths, sweet peas, and nasturtiums repre- 

 sent families with most extraordinarily near-related 

 colors. There is a predominating force of crimson in the 

 sweet pea, and a predominating force of orange in the 

 nasturtium. It is rather a nice bit of color adjustment 

 in either family to choose flowers which excel in harmony 

 of color the careless grouping together of flowers picked 

 at random. 



But the theory that analogous colors harmonize is cor- 

 rect only if it is not carried to excess. Attempts to force 

 deep-hued flowers into harmony often lead to contrary 

 results. A range of color from crimson to ultramarine 

 depends for its harmony upon the simplicity or the deli- 

 cacy of the hues. Such colors, in full force, would do 

 violence to each other. It is tempting the hardness of a 

 diamond to pound it with a sledge hammer. It is taxing 

 crimson too heavily to expect it to show its strength in 

 the presence of strong violet ! If the effort is to merge 

 the personality of the crimson flower into the purple one, 

 and effect a play of color between the two, the combina- 

 tion of strong hues thus is justifiable. 



The theory that colors at right angles on the wheel are 

 discordant is also subject to some modification. Rela- 

 tively the right-angled colors must be crude and strong 

 to objectionably affect the eye. Yellow and red in the 

 rose is an agreeable color combination. Yellow and red 

 dahlias crowded together are abominably harsh under a 

 sensitive eye. 



A country bouquet of asters, marigolds, fuchsias and 

 dahlias is bad, because the country garden is not a part 

 of it. A few feet of air and space and a stretch of green 

 foliage make a world of difference. 



It is wisest to try the effect of one color upon another 

 before allowing two or three strong hues to wage war 



524. Harmony by 



and aggressive. Remove the one or the other and sub- 

 stitute a pale-tinted flower of either hue, and the result 

 will be a harmonious one. 

 Flower families are very apt to sustain harmonies of 



525. The intermediate hues. 



with each other. It will be quickly found that white is a 

 peacemaker, and green is an invaiuable mediator. With 

 these colors at command, the chances of color discord 

 are reduced to a minimum. Everything also depends 

 upon simplicity in color combinations. It is questionable 

 whether a combination of more than two colors can ever 

 ue a^sthetically a success. The adjustment of many colors 

 needs the hand of an expert, p, Schuyler Mathews. 



COLOEADO, HOETICULTUKE IN. The state of 

 Colorado includes the territory lying between the par- 

 allels 37° and 41° north latitude, and between the me- 

 ridians 102° and 109° west longitude. Its surface is di- 

 versified by mountains, high table lands, plains and val- 

 leys, with a range above tide-water of from 3,400 feet on 

 the eastern border to over 14,000 feet in many snow-clad 

 peaks. It is traversed from north to south by the great 

 Rocky mountain range, and thus divided into two well 

 marked though unequal divisions. The main "conti- 

 nental divide" is supplemented by several well-defined 

 ranges, and by numerous mountain spurs, between 

 which, and at altitudes ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 feet, 

 lie the four large and several smaller parks or valleys. 



