156 



PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



believe that these hues in deciduous trees, both in- 

 trinsically and as contrasted with the brighter ever- 

 greens, are a great, though often unnoticed, source of 

 pleasure in the woodlands of winter. They help to 

 make up that Ml harmony which the great instrumen- 

 talist, Light, calls forth from the living organs on 

 which it plays. 



The use of the colors of trees and shrubs, to the im- 

 prover, is very great; but his application of them 

 must depend very much on his own skill in adapting 

 his materials to the character .of the place and the 

 nature of the ground with which he is dealing. We 

 may remark, however, that the depth of a recess or 

 glade, in the woods or dressed grounds, formed for the 

 purpose of creating a shadowy effect, is much increased 

 by planting trees and shrubs of a full green or dark- 

 green color, at the point where the effect is desired. 

 The somber color of the trees themselves, and the den- 

 sity of the foliage, contribute to render the shadow 

 more intense, while an opposite result would be educed 

 by a lighter color of foliage. Some prominent points 

 •may be brought out by a dark, others by a light or 

 silvery-green. The effect of distance, too, may be pro^ 

 duced or increased by employing dark-greens in the 

 foreground, and shading off with lighter colors in the 

 more remote objects. It is hardly needful to add, that 

 good taste enjoins a sparing use of strongly-marked 

 or glaring colors. White poplars and purple beeches, 

 for example, are admirably adapted for occasional 

 breaks, in the way of contrast, or for completing a 

 gradation of shades; but in certain situations, they 

 would be intolerable as clumps or masses. 



