HISTORY & DESCRIPTION OF STYLES 1$ 



by Ed. Andr6 is worth examination. The groups 

 running into the hollow show off the lines of the 

 ground, and the path to the left is well managed. 



The natural style forbids any straight line 

 planting, and the effect of repetition must be 

 studiously avoided. Single specimens should be 

 provided as well as groups. Certain trees seem 

 by nature gregarious, e.g. silver birches, Scotch 

 firs, spruce ; whereas others appear to require 

 solitude, e.g. oak, horse-chestnut, sycamore, 

 cedar. In selecting material this character must 

 be taken into account along with the kind of soil. 

 It is folly to attempt trees in uncongenial condi- 

 tions, for though it may be possible to start them in 

 suitable soil, it is impossible to provide enough for 

 their full growth, and it is disappointing to see a 

 tree sicken and die just as it begins to be of^ import- 

 ance. A little inspection of the trees prevalent 

 in the district will prevent mistakes of this kind. 



Any number of trees may be taken to form a 

 group, and even numbers may be as " naturally " 

 set as odd. The triangle and square, and other 

 figures suggested by the numbers must be avoided. 

 There is no need to allow sufficient space for each 

 tree to develop perfectly, as this is not character- 

 istic of a group, but they must not be stinted by 

 too little space. Trees of the same species do not 

 injure each other by contact, and the way they 

 lean outwards to obtain more room is one of the 

 beauties of a group. (Diagrams 8, 9.) While 



