VI 



THE BEAUTY OF SIMPLE GROUPING 



It may appear at first superfluous to devote a 

 chapter to "simple grouping," but the beauty of 

 the garden much depends upon the way the flowers 

 are arranged. Too often do we see plants dotted 

 about promiscuously, a plan the paltry triviality 

 of which, naturally enough, leads to the herbaceous 

 border being stigmatised as "a confused muddle 

 without any beauty or interest." The system of 

 planting in lines is, if possible, even more objection- 

 able. Nature groups her flowers — does not plant 

 them in lines — and, as far as practicable in a well- 

 ordered garden, we should be guided by the 

 methods of that "predominant partner." A 

 certain lady writer once defended herself for 

 having advocated planting in lines by saying that 

 she was merely writing for beginners, but beginners 

 have as much right to demand beauty in the garden 



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