INTRODUCTION. 23 



may be considerably increased by the proper 

 arrangement of hues. Trees whose leaves are 

 of a grey or bluish tint, when seen over or 

 between shrubs of a yellow or bright green 

 seem thrown into the distance. Trees with 

 small and tremulous leaves should wave over 

 or before those of broad or fixed foliage. The 

 light and elegant acacia has a more beautiful 

 effect when it's branches float over the firm 

 and dark holly or bay-tree. In some situa- 

 tions the bare trunk of trees may be shown ; 

 in some, it should be concealed by ever- 

 greens and creepers. Vines, also, may be 

 suffered to embrace it, and form natural 

 festoons where the extent of ground will 

 allow of wilderness scenery. In all situations, 

 nature may be assisted, but should never 

 be deformed by clipping ; for ingenuity ought 

 to be employed to disguise art, not to ex- 

 pose it. 



The beauty of plants cannot be displayed 

 when they are too much crowded, as they are 

 then drawn up into unnatural shapes. There- 

 fore, the oftener open spaces can be admitted, 

 the more will the shrubs exhibit themselves 

 to advantage, and the more cheerful will be 

 the walk ; for it becomes insipid and gloomy 

 when confined for any distance. The winds 

 also claim our attention. Care must be taken 



c 4 



