PART II 



CHAPTER VII 

 CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS 



The woody plants (the trees, the shrubs, and the vines), the herbaceous flower- 

 ing plants and ground covers, and even the grass are all essential elements in the 

 structure and the scenery of the yard. However, a discriminating selection and 

 an intelligent arrangement of plant material is necessary in order to produce the 

 essential structure and the fitting scenery. In building a house, one buys the assort- 

 ment of material required for a given plan; and in order to produce the house it is 

 necessary, first, to have a plan, next, to know the kinds and quantities of material 

 needed, and, lastly, to know how to assemble them. Most of the material loses its 

 identity in the assemblage, but this result is intentional and requisite for any degree 

 of success in the making of a house. In the yard the situation is precisely the same, 

 and in order to make useful and attractive yards it is equally necessary to plan 

 first, then to determine what is required for the plan, and, finally, to assemble the 

 material properly. 



Many persons start WTong by first making a selection of their favorite plants. 

 Then they may endeavor to arrange and to so combine these as to make an attrac- 

 tive and useful yard; but they encounter many misfits, and their success is 

 limited. In most instances, these favorite plants are merely scattered about, with 

 thought only for their thrifty growth and for the enjoyment of them as individuals. 

 Nevertheless, one's interest in either plants or buildings does not justify the 

 sacrifice of other essential features. Neither houses, nor gardens, nor architectural 

 details, nor plants, nor, in fact, any part of a residence property is more important 

 than the plan for the whole. The raison d'Stre of every element and feature lies 

 only in its contribution to the effect of the entire plan. However, careful planning 

 at the start does not necessarily mean the sacrifice of one's special interests; 

 rather, it affords an opportunity for the best development of each of the elements. 

 Further, the beauty of the whole is then the sum of the beauty of all the parts. 

 Decorative plants, as weU as decoration within the house, to appear at their best, 

 must be coordinated with their environment. 



In the foregoing chapters much has been said about planning, but now this 

 question arises: when and how does the planning for plants come in? In the very 

 beginning, emphasis was placed upon comprehensive planning as tlie only means 

 whereby a judicious allotment of space and a reasonable arrangement are possible. 

 The plan formulated at this stage, however, can be merely a generalization. The 

 approximate position for the house, and perhaps its outline, are therein determined; 

 but further study suggests changes, and only after consideration can the exact 

 dimensions of the house be finally decided. A like study of the yard and of its 

 several parts suggests slight changes, perhaps also including some slight alteration 

 in the position of the house or even of details of its plan or of its elevations. Thus, 

 through processes of planning that become more and more detailed, it is ulti- 

 mately possible to develop an exact plan for the entire lot. When this much 

 has been accomplished, the house may be planned in detail, and even built; and 

 detailed plans for the yard may likewise be made, of which planting plans are 

 a part. 



