Trees and Shrubs 69 



color contrast, I will not venture to state. The 

 matter presents great difficulties, and in my ex- 

 perience these attempts, if I went too far into 

 detail, have seldom succeeded very well, and, on 

 the other hand, plantations mixed quite recklessly 

 often unfolded the most unexpected charms ; nay, 

 they earned me many compliments for my art 

 wherein I was as innocent as many a physician 

 who has effected a great cure without knowing 

 how he did it. I do not lay much stress on any 

 instructions in this matter, as I have always taken 

 an easy middle course. It must also be remem- 

 bered that the foliage of trees will often assume 

 an entirely and unexpected shade when trans- 

 planted to a different soil, and this cannot always 

 be regulated in a large plot. It may happen that 

 a dark-colored maple intended for shading grows 

 a very light foliage. It is quite obvious, however, 

 that one should avoid too variegated a mixture 

 of leaves, too frequent alternations of dark and 

 light green foliage, but here also, where it would 

 be hard to lay down good, sharp rules in detail, 

 the taste of the owner must be the best guide. One 

 of the greatest difficulties in all plantations is to 

 give to the edges a natural and graceful outline.' 

 Many excellent examples of forest plantations 

 are found in England, and I may be excused for 

 referring to the park of Lord Darnley, in Cob- 



" The outlines are generally indicated by sticks set in the ground at 

 short intervals. The effect may be still better judged by outlining the 

 shape on the grass with cords and running a fiirrow along this outline. 

 This furnishes an easy means of judging, and, if necessary, altering, the 

 shape. 



