April, 1911 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS xiii 
CRITICAL NOTES ON PLANTING 
l IS often difficult to explain why one 
scene pleases and why another fails: 
to please, why one grouping of trees . 
is satisfying to our taste and another 
grouping of the same trees not so. The 
landscape which displeases is “Nature” 
and the unsatisfactory group contains 
the same trees that are in the satisfactory 
group. It is hard in any art to explain 
the finer shades of feeling, but we, who 
work with living trees and shrubs find 
a new trouble; namely, the veneration 
for all growing things which is so thor- 
oughly inculcated to-day. A tree is 
sacred and must not be spoken of with- 
out respect! 
I shall try, however, to point out by 
means of similar but contrasting ex- 
amples why one scene pleases and an- 
other is vile, at the same time taking the 
opportunity to speak of the means by 
which the results were obtained. 
Figure No. 1 shows a good group of 
Norway spruces flanked by deciduous 
x 
Fig. |—A group of Norway spruces, with beeches 
and maples, forming a wind-break 
trees (beeches and maples) all forming 
an effective wind-break for the house. 
The spruces have been taken advantage 
of as a background for the large bed of 
rhododendrons and lilies (which are now 
in flower). It is a charming arrange- 
ment, good at all seasons of the year and 
it is just the place to plant rhododen- 
drons and lilies. They are protected from 
the winter sun and yet get enough in 
summer. It will also be noticed that 
they are not planted too near the spruces, 
which rob the soil of fertility and mois- 
ture. 
A little more variety in the height of 
the rhododendrons would help and it 
would be better to have them extend 
further to each side, losing themselves 
in the trees. As it is, they are discon- 
nected and fill up a bay, which should be 
open, but with rhododendrons at the 
margin, linking trees and grass. 
Figure No. 2 shows a scheme which is 
obviously insulting to any taste and 
needs little comment except the sugges- 
tion that the large Norway spruce to the 
left be cut out. The other trees would 
be more effective without it. 
GARDEN NOTES 
CONDUCTED BY CHARLES DOWNING LAY 
Fig. 2—The large Norway spruce to the left should be cut 
out to make the cluster effective 
Figure No. 3 is not only a good group 
of hemlocks, maples and oaks, but it also 
shows a well located blue spruce and an- 
other which is badly located. The one in 
the middle is excellent. It is a magnifi- 
cent tree in a good place. The smaller 
spruce at the right, however, detracts 
much from the beauty of the scene, and 
I should like to take out the insignificant 
bushes dotted on the lawn. 
Figure No. 4 is the prize of our collec- 
tion, and if one may judge from a photo- 
graph it is a masterful piece of work, full 
of charm and restraint and technically 
excellent. It is probably as good in color 
as it is in form and texture. What could 
be nicer than the way the rhododendrons 
and the taller shrubs and trees blend to- 
gether? What more picturesque than 
the sky line of the group? Only hints 
of such beauty are to be found in real 
unspoiled “nature.” 
The last note in atrocious work is 
found in Figure 5. The line of the path 
is bad, the planting is spotty even in the 
photograph, and in real life it must be 
hideous. With the naked eye I can 
count 57 varieties of trees and shrubs, all 
different tones and showing the complete 
range of color from yellow to blue, with 
Fig. 3—An excellent group of hemlock, maple, oak and 
spruce trees with the exception of the smaller 
spruce at the right 
JAPANESE ORNAMENTS 
FOR THE 
AMERICAN GARDEN 
MONG all peoples perhaps the Japa- 
nese best understand the art of 
making beautiful GARDENS, not 
only beautiful with buds and blossoms, but 
with garden furniture and permanent 
ornaments. 
Japanese gardens 
are famous the world 
over for their unique 
complement of 
bridges, 
terns, 
carved dragons 
gargoyle-like 
‘“cozy-corner”’ 
and ar- 
tistic conceptions for 
ornamentation. 
The accompanying 
arches, lan- 
curiously 
and 
figures, 
seats, 
numberless 
illustrations show two 
pagoda-shaped 
terns. A most de- 
lightfu! effect is ob- 
tained at dusk by 
lighting candles in 
these lanterns. The 
glow is seen through 
coy- 
lan- 
small windows 
ered with oil paper, 
and the effect is in | 
perfect harmony with § 
the tranquil charm of i& 
the evening hour. F 
These stone  lan- 
terns. are imported 
from Japan, each are = 
of different design 
and retail at from 
$25.00 to $200.00. | 
JOE Sir Wy 
kongs, large 
bronze garden 
terns, jardinieres, and 
benches are also to 
be found in The 
Oriental Store, all 
imported by us from 
Japan. 
The bronze 
water 
pots, 
lan- 
at $1,000.00, 
The 
sell 
$1,500.00, $3,500.00 and $4,000.00. 
water kongs are in two sizes, either round 
or octagonal shapes, and sell at $25.00 and 
$30.00. 
We shall take pleasure in helping you 
make a selection, should you call at our 
lanterns 
store. If this is impossible, we cordially 
invite correspondence, and we will gladly 
submit sketches and give you full informa- 
tion. Address Department B. 
The Oriental Store. 
877-879 Broadway, New York 
Also: Boston and Philadelphia. 
FOR THE HOME ARTISTIC: 
Canton Chairs, Ornamental Japanese 
Basket Work, Japanese Screens, Ori- 
ental Wall Coverings and Draperies, 
Oriental Rugs and Lamps. 
