44 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



without coddling. . . . After all, what poor specimens these emigrants are, compared 

 with their ancestors resident in their native land." This would be all very well if everybody 

 took the same point of view, but, alas, it is not so, and human nature in the garden, as 

 elsewhere, ever longs for variety, and there is ample room in the gardens of England for 

 all tastes and all systems or methods of gardening, provided their owners are pleased; for, 

 after all, this is the very reason to be of a garden — to please and satisfy human tastes and 

 human needs. 



One of the rarest of all natural gifts or senses is a good eye for colour. Even 

 artists get into difficulties here ; so we need not wonder at the garish effects often seen in 

 gardens. Colour in the flower garden may be either mixed or massed in separate shades. 



The arrangement that pleases 

 one may not please another, 

 and there is room for all 

 modes and methods. As a 

 rule, occasional visitors appre- 

 ciate brilliant effects that 

 would soon pall and weary 

 those who see them every 

 day. The chatelaine is 

 generally the best judge as 

 to the most suitable colour 

 scheme to employ ; but what- 

 ever that is, one bright or 

 telling colour should predomi- 

 nate and occupy the focus 

 spot or centre of the whole 

 arrangement. Nature gives us 

 bold suggestions on the use 

 of vivid colour, and but 

 rarely uses her brightest 

 hues and her brightest greens 

 together. It is a safe rule 

 to use plenty of grey foliage 

 with the brightest colours, 

 such as crimson or scarlet, or 

 with vivid blue, and all the 

 warm hues of yellow and 

 orange show best with brown 

 or purple foliage in contrast, 

 this being a better contrast 



BEDS OF SUMMER FLOWERS. 



than the vulgar combination 



of yellow and purple flowers. Above all, take all care in the juxtaposition of reds, and keep 

 orange reds and blue or purple reds and crimsons as far apart as is possible. As a rule, it is 

 best to mass different shades of the same colour together, with a sufficiency of white flowers 

 or of suitable foliage to act as a foil, but now and then a mixed or spangle bed or 

 group may be made with good effect. 



But the most brilliant of colours, such as scarlet, yellow, and blue, may be 

 used in close proximity only on one condition, and that is, that plenty of green or 

 grey foliage be used along with them. Wherever the whole of a flower garden 

 or parterre is seen at once, one colour should be dominant, be it red, yellow, 

 orange, or blue ; a few kinds in broad masses will give far more effect than, any 



