SckeWs Landscape-Gar dening. 407 



harmonious unison and more picturesque keeping, than in the 

 opposite case. 



4. This harmonious union which trees and shrubs of one 

 family present should not, therefore, be either too arbitrarily 

 or too often interrupted by other sorts of trees, because these 

 beautiful, harmonious, and picturesque forms would, in a great 

 measure, be destroyed. 



For example: if, for a group of from 30 ft. to 60 ft. in diameter, 

 from twenty to thirty different sorts of trees were selected, and 

 these planted as they chanced to come to hand without regard to 

 their growth or form, what landscape-painter would or could 

 paint such a gallimaufry ! 



Planting was performed in this way in ancient symmetrical 

 gardens. Whatever chance presented, whether a tree or a shrub, 

 or of whatever species, was thrust into the hole ; hence these 

 plantations had neither picturesque keeping, nor picturesque 

 value. This constant change destroyed all pretension to beauti- 

 ful outlines; because they were continually disturbed and inter- 

 rupted by other species of trees, frequently of an entirely 

 opposite and contradictory character. From this it appears 

 necessary, that, when it is possible, large masses of trees and 

 shrubs should be planted with one sort, to the number of from 

 400 to 600 or 1,000 plants and more, according to the size of 

 the ground*; because these, having an equal growth, form amal- 

 gamating and harmonious outlines, and also imitate nature, which 

 usually displays itself in large bold masses. 



5. What effect can be produced by a single maple, when 

 situated solitary and alone, apart from its congeners, among trees 

 of another species ? A single tree so situated is as if lost in this 

 heterogeneous multitude, and will often be pitied by the specta- 

 tor, because it is so crowded up, and can so imperfectly display 

 its beautiful form. This is but too well known a fact, which has 

 often induced me, when trees so situated were worth preserving, 

 and because they produced no effect and were scarcely seen, to 

 have them taken up and planted in another spot where they 

 might be more admired, or saved from an early death. 



6. All sorts of trees are as different in their forms, as their 

 value in picturesque effect is different. The broad obtuse crowns 

 of the majestic oak, those of the beech and hornbeam, of the 

 sweet and horse chestnuts, those of elms, limes, the common 

 black and silver poplar, with the ash, the platanus, the common 

 and black walnut, the tall willows, &c, have picturesque, distinct, 

 and expressive forms. Their noble heads form picturesque 

 groups, which now stand out in the full blaze of light, or, covered 



* In small pleasure-grounds, of from eight to twelve acres in size, the 

 groups may consist of from 100 to 200 or 300 trees or shrubs. 



D 1) 4 



