ON COLOUR IN TREE SCENERY. 459 



admired it and agreed that it was at once telling and 

 beautiful. Led by admiration as much as by curiosity 

 we approached it, and discovered a dead tree retaining its 

 reddish-brown withered leaves. 



I think that any cultivated observer who may dwell 

 ever so briefly on the tree scenery of Great Britain will 

 admit that the contrasts of colour, weak and little varied 

 as they generally are, present to him one of its most 

 pleasing features. If, then, the slight existing variation of 

 colour, restricted principally to the contrast between light 

 and dark green, is admitted to be an element of beauty, 

 may we not justly infer that we should gain something if 

 we varied and increased the contrasts by the use of 

 stronger and more distinct colours ? I think, then, that I 

 may fairly assume, that on a free and full consideration of 

 this subject, it will be generally admitted that a greater 

 variety of colour would be an improvement in the tree 

 scenery of our English gardens, parks, and landscapes. 



I have next to show that the object I seek is attainable. 

 The arrangement of the colours of flowers in the flower 

 garden has of late years been worked out with wonderful 

 skill and effect. What were our flower gardens in this 

 respect thirty years ago? I remember that results 

 predicted then were considered impossible by the many, 

 although they have been accomplished and more than 

 accomplished long ago. Now, as far as I am aware, no one 

 has yet applied the same principles in the arrangement of 

 trees and shrubs with coloured leaves. I have been told 

 that it cannot be done. But after a long study of the 

 question and numerous experiments, I have come to a 

 different conclusion, which I submit with all deference to 

 those who think otherwise. I believe that here, as in the 

 flower garden, there only needs a beginning and progress 

 will be rapid and success certain. 



Many years ago I formed a collection of pictorial trees 

 and shrubs, and planted them closely together with the 

 view of watching their development and eradicating those 



