22 THE CULTIVATED EVERGREENS 



The shapes of these are too similar to make them distinct to 

 the average eye. 



The larger evergreens have their particular place in the 

 landscape. Another special field is filled by the low species and 

 dwarf forms of the larger sorts. For formal and pattern beds 

 of all kinds, the low junipers, yews, arbor-vitae and retinis- 

 poras were apparently created. Lacking these, and some of 

 the broad-leaved evergreens, as box and English ivy, the 

 contrast of lawn and normal vegetation, with dark masses of 

 three dimensions in set designs, would not be possible, except 

 as filled with herbaceous material. The plants are wholly 

 restricted in their placing by the requirements of the design 

 and the chief demand on them is that they live and thrive, yet 

 increase in size but little lest they outgrow their allotted space 

 and spoil the design. For the effect that Lord Bacon also 

 observed in tarts, the regular ranging of this material has a 

 decided place in certain styles of design. The chief requirement 

 in the staging is a relation to some degree between the flat- 

 topped, rounded, and pointed ones. To avoid monotony of 

 forms or extreme diversity, securing harmony yet contrast in 

 shapes, textures, and tones, requires an unusual degree of 

 skill in placing plant materials. 



The flat-topped and cushion-shaped forms of conifers, as 

 dense varieties of spruce and arbor-vitae, make very distinct 

 groups in the landscape, so very distinct that they should be 

 introduced with extreme caution in any except formal work. 

 The spiry sorts, as Irish juniper or yew, are particularly useful 

 as accents in the formal garden. The darkest forms, as savin 

 and dwarf yew, give deep tones and shadows to this living 

 painting; while the foliage tones of silver, gold, and blue add 

 the high lights and sun touches. With such a wealth of material 

 for this three-dimension sketching, the student of planting 



