The Natural Style in Landscape Gardening 



psychological effect. The feeling for odd numbers 

 also throws its emphasis on the five. With any- 

 where from five to twelve, according to species, we 

 have individuals enough to make a genuine and 

 effective group. At this stage grouping comes to 

 its real meaning; and it must be allowed that most 

 planters are more successful in groups of this size 

 than in any other scale. Perhaps this is the same 

 as to say that in common garden and park problems 

 this unit gives the most advantageous effect. 



Another good reason, however, for the success of 

 these larger groups lies in the fact that they offer 

 much wider possibilities in detailed composition. 

 There is much less danger of falling into one stiff, 

 set grouping. 



Since groups of this moderate size have such spe- 

 cial value in landscape composition we may prop- 

 erly dwell somewhat longer on the problems con- 

 nected with their development. 



Thus far we have assumed that each group is to 

 be composed of plants all alike — all of the same 

 species and variety. In groups of less than five, 

 this is almost obligatory, but in larger units there 



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