STATE POMOLOQICAL SOClETr. 57 



* " Of the general principles applicable to small suburban es- 

 tates, we shall first speak of Adaptation. 



It not unfrequently happens that an estate comes into one's 

 possession upon which certain undesirable features may be pre- 

 sented either by the dwelling, or by the grounds, or by both, with 

 which it is impracticable, or at least not desirable to interfere. 

 The only course to be pursued in such a case, is to make the best 

 of existing circumstances ; and it is in this adaptation of means 

 to ends that the executive abilities of the man of taste and good 

 judgment are best exhibited, tending often to the production of 

 the very best results. 



Gongruity is one of the most important principles to be kept in 

 view in the arrangement of the smallest estate, and is one that is 

 more frequently violated among us than almost any other. For 

 example, it is not uncommon in looking from the house, to see 

 upon one side of the estate, plantations of trees and shrubs ar- 

 ranged in natural order, and on the opposite side, a straight 

 avenue flanked in a formal manner. Here is an evident incon- 

 gruity. Again, the introduction of fruit trees among those which 

 are strictly ornamental, especially upon a lawn, strikes the eye of 

 taste unpleasantly ; so also does the presence of vegetables among 

 the garden flowers. 



The disposal of architectural ornaments in a style diffei-ent from 

 the main house, immediately about and attached to it, as for ex- 

 ample, those of a rustic character, are instances of the want of 

 congruity. On the same principle, the attaching of a common 

 greenhouse to a dwelling of any pretence to architectural style 

 cannot be admissible. 



In the arrangement of an estate, there should be one expression 

 or leading feature to which the others should be subordinate. 

 This principle termed unity, should be recognized even more in 

 small estates than in large ones, for the reason that its violation in 

 the former is more striking and more quickly detected. 



Unity, however, should not interfere with the proper introduc- 

 tion of variety, which should be shown in the plantations, in the 

 walks, flower-beds, and in the various garden ornaments, as well 

 as in the vistas, recesses, pieces of water, etc." 



f "Variety must be considered as belonging more to the details 

 than to the production of a whole. By producing intricacy, it 



* Extract from Essay by Daniel Dennison Slade. Trans. Mass. Hort. Society, 1875; 

 Part 2d, p. 38. f Downings Landscape Gardening. 



