382 MORE POT-POURRI 



generally sees. The same with the outdoor planting ; 

 though artificial and formal, it was done with considerable 

 thought and originality, the beds being thoroughly carpeted 

 to keep away weeds, which in that style of gardening is 

 the only possible plan. The colour-contrasts were good ; a 

 brighter, hotter sun than ours, together with much watering, 

 perfects this kind of garden. I found planting of effective 

 groups in the grass was a distinct feature in gardens 

 about Cronberg, and better done than I have ever seen in 

 England, save in very exceptional cases. It is an art 

 that can rarely be understood by gardeners, as I think it 

 requires a certain amount of real art-training to be able 

 to imagine effects both of form and colour. A well- 

 planted White Variegated Maple ought to be in every 

 garden, but it should not be allowed to get large and 

 coarse. A contrast should be planted near it in the shape 

 of broad-spreading leaves of some strong-growing, dark- 

 foliaged plant. 



A much more delicate mixture is a small red-leaved 

 Japanese Maple and the Spircea Ulmaria, the common 

 British Meadow-sweet. In strong soils this is a lovely 

 combination on grass. In this kind of planting, it is 

 most important to remember that if two spiral or two 

 bushy things are planted together they interfere with the 

 grace of form which is aimed at. In the just-mentioned 

 plants the small red Maple would stand out strong from 

 the grass, and would represent massiveness of form and 

 colour. The well-grown specimens of the Spiraea sure to 

 do well, as they are wild plants represent the grace of 

 spiral growth and light, soft, white or cream colour. I 

 find Eucalyptus G-unnii the hardiest of all the gum-trees, 

 and most especially pretty in colour and form for this 

 kind of gardening ; and it is also good for picking, as it 

 lives well in water. These contrasts may be carried out 

 in endless variety even in small gardens. 



