ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 25 



Planting. — Plants are the fundamental ornament of nature, 

 and therefore of the garden ; and it is on their association that 

 the charm of the landscape mostly depends. Planting is, 

 therefore, of paramount importance in landscape-gardening. In 

 the creation of a garden the formation of the ground may not 

 be well harmonised — the waters may look artificial, the rocks may 

 not be well disposed ; but all these defects can be amended 

 by a cleverly-arranged plantation. Failure in making a good 

 choice of plants, or in grouping them well, is an irreparable 

 mistake. Each tree has its particular aspect and charm 

 when well developed, though its aesthetic qualities may be 

 differently appreciated. On the Continent one is accustomed to 

 see trees with large crowns supported by naked trunks forming 

 the woods, and they are appreciated there as much as those 

 splendid isolated specimens which have been able to grow 

 freely, and whose branches touch the ground. In England a 

 tree is really only appreciated when its trunk is densely covered 

 with branches. In the United States, inspired by the same taste 

 a tree is not allowed to have its crown supported by a nude 

 trunk, and gardeners there go so far as to top the heads of big 

 trees. Beauty can express itself in many ways without one being 

 obliged to have recourse to such radical methods. It can 

 never manifest itself better than when an object is allowed to 

 develop itself freely under its natural conditions. For this reason, 

 all operations tending to modify the natural form and beauty of 

 a tree ought to be condemned. To cut isolated trees into any 

 shape whatever is bad taste. Such proceedings may be tolerated 

 when dealing with a mass ; for instance, in the form of a straight 

 avenue, an arbour, or a hedge, the lines of which are in harmony 

 with the style of the garden. Without any consideration of 

 species and stature, the beauty of a tree lies in the elegance 

 and lightness of its general aspect. A tree with compact and 

 regular foliage, its apparent surface not being broken by the 

 projection of a few branches, is not of agreeable appearance. 

 The white Horse-chestnut is in this condition in its early stage, 

 but it improves in appearance as it grows, and the branches of a 

 fully-developed tree often droop to the ground. How inferior 

 ■beyond any ^comparison is the glow of light falling on an 

 unbroken mass of leaves compared with that falling on the noble 

 outlines of an Oak or a Beech ! What a variety of gradation of 

 lights and shadows are produced by their prominent branches 

 and deep recesses ! 



