638 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



of red and yellow, green of yellow and blue, 

 and violet of blue and red. The tint of a mixed 

 colour depends upon the relative proportion of 

 the elements which enter into its composition, 

 and as there is no limit to the variations of the 

 proportions themselves, the result is an infinite 

 number of shades between the three primary 

 colours. 



A complementary colour, when added to a 

 compound or simple colour, will reconstitute the 



triad of elementary colours. Hence green (blue 

 and yellow) is the complementary of red; violet 

 (red and blue) of yellow; orange (red and 

 yellow) of blue; and reciprocally, blue, yellow, 

 and red are complementary to orange, violet, 

 and green. The association of colours in twos or 

 threes, or in a greater number, produces a very 

 different effect upon the eye according to the 

 combinations adopted. Certain tints mutually 

 render each other more effective by approxima- 



tion, whilst others lose by association. This is 

 sufficiently apparent from the approximation of 

 yellow and violet, red and green, or blue and 

 orange. Binary associations of composite colours 

 produce pleasing results, because in each group 

 all three elementary colours are reunited. 



That the contrasts will be effective, may 

 be proved by placing violet and orange, or 

 violet and green, side by side. On the other- 

 hand, simple colours contrast badly with com- 

 pound colours into whose composition they 

 enter, as in this case only two of the primary 

 colours are represented. Thus red contrasts ill 

 with orange and with violet, and blue with 

 violet and green. All colours are improved 

 by association with white, and contrast with 

 it in a most agreeable manner; white is there- 

 fore useful for separating colours that do not go 

 well together, for instance red and orange, red 

 and violet, violet and blue, &c. 



The most suitable position for carpet-bedding 



is as a rule in the immediate vicinity of the 

 house. A position near to trees or groups of 

 shrubs should be avoided, as the geometrical 

 lines would be out of place amid such surround- 

 ings. The preparation of the beds and mark- 

 ing out of the design need to be carefully done. 

 A fairly rich soil should be provided, which 

 should be open and well drained. A good 

 depth of soil is an advantage, and this should 

 be deeply dug annually. Stiff heavy soils may 

 be improved by adding ashes, burnt soil, or 

 brick rubble. If it is intended to commence 

 planting immediately after digging, tread or 

 beat the soil so that no after-settlement may 

 take place; or if the planting is not to be done 

 for some time, the soil may be left to settle 

 clown naturally. The beds should be made firm 

 and even before the plants are put in. It is 

 advisable to mark out the whole design on the 

 soil before any planting is done, and this is easily 

 accomplished with fine dry white sand run into 



