ARBORETUMS IN PRIVATE RESIDENCES. 255 



and skrabs would certainly diminisli greatly, if it did not 

 altogether destroy, the harmonions repose produced by 

 considerable masses of tlie same kind of tree. Groups 

 composed of single specimens of the diflPerent species of 

 oaks [Quercus), elms {Ulmus), planes (Acer), etc., would 

 be utterly deficient in that graceful and impressive dig- 

 nity which is exhibited by large groups and masses of 

 the English oak and other common species of the above 

 mentioned genera. We do not deny that there are other 

 species of these genera but little known, which would be 

 as effective were they treated in the same way ; but we 

 mean that in ornamental planting there must be some 

 breadth of the same boughs and foliage before any 

 pleasure can be conveyed to the mind apart from the 

 interest created by variety. 



In making part of the pleasure-grounds the basis of 

 the arboretum, we would form the large groups or 

 masses of a magnitude proportioned to the extent of the 

 place, and we would plant them with the finest trees, 

 whether old or new, to constitute the leading features of 

 the scene. Taking these as the groundwork, we would 

 relieve or set them off by single trees of the species be- 

 longing to the same genera, throwing groups of a similar 

 composition into the adjacent places of the park; or, 

 using the same groundwork as before, we would intro- 

 duce generic, ordinal, or allied groups of selected species 

 into such positions as would contribute to the variety 

 and beauty of the whole. We strongly recommend the 

 selection of materials to proprietors forming arboretums 

 in the vicinity of private residences. There are some 

 hundreds of trees and shrubs which may safely be left 

 to the botanic garden and public park. Probably there 

 are few genera which deserve to be taken in the whole. 



