18 Planting, 4*^., of Ornamental Trees. 



most effectual way of rendering those scenes that are most 

 likely to be minutely examined, more interesting than they 

 generally are, is to introduce a greater variety of shrubs and 

 ornamental trees. In many shrubberies, or pleasure grounds 

 so called, you can find nothing but the ordinary road-side 

 trees, viz., the elm, maple, and perhaps a horsechestnut and 

 lime, while for evergreens you discover nothing but the com- 

 mon Balsam fir, which the planters have thought too dear at 

 a shilling apiece. We could name hundreds of villa gardens 

 of this description, around Boston, but will at present forbear 

 to particularize, in the hope that some really liberal men, — 

 whom we also know to be men of good taste, — will take the 

 hint from what is here stated, and plant some of the finer 

 shrubs, such as abies and pinus, which are now introduced 

 in many varieties ; more especially the foliated shrubs, such 

 as -rhododendrons, kalmias, deodar cedars, mahonias, and 

 hollies ; and, above all, plant more of the Norway spruce and 

 fewer of the bare-legged balsam, than is now filling every 

 nook in the pseudo landscapes of many, otherwise pretty, 

 country villas. 



In grounds of a few acres in extent, introducing variety 

 and beauty must be the principal object aimed at. The prin- 

 ciple of grandeur in landscape gardening need not be at- 

 tempted, or failure will be the result. Grandeur in planting 

 depends more upon the Avhole than the parts, and the whole 

 here is so small as to be incapable, from any point, of itself of 

 impressing the spectator with ideas of grandeur, as is here 

 understood. Small places, therefore, must depend on the va- 

 riety and beauty of the trees and shrubs planted, and the dis- 

 position of the walks and other appendages of the ground, 

 than on the mere extent of the whole. But let me make a 

 few remarks on Avhat is here meant by variety — certainly not 

 that which some garden-makers seem to understand it ; they 

 appear to imagine that variety is produced merely by mix- 

 ture, and consequently, their rule is, to mix as many kinds 

 together as they possibly can procure, no matter what they 

 are ; and they never let two of the same species be seen at 

 once. This is the common idea for what is termed variety 



