82 
ARRANGING HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 
stated, there remains nothing more to be said in their praise. With beauty, with 
ornament, with the proper development or exhibition of the character of a plant, 
they are entirely incompatible. We look upon them as mere living descriptive 
catalogues, — observative and experimental departments, — and not properly features 
of limited pleasure grounds. 
The practice of attempting to arrange plants of any description according to 
their natural affinity, or their position in any system of classification, is radically 
erroneous, when the charms and beauties of vegetation are wished to be exhibited. 
It creates both a dull monotony, and a slovenly, displeasing irregularity ; two 
extremes equally to be deprecated in landscape gardening. Paradoxical as this 
may appear, it is not the less correct. The uniformity alluded to is local, differing 
widely from comprehensive unity ; it is confined to the particular beds or plots set 
apart to the species of certain genera or tribes. These frequently assimilate so 
closely to each other in appearance, that in one place will be seen a bed of trees, 
all evergreen; in juxta-position a cluster of dwarf shrubs, perhaps all flowering at 
the same time ; and equally near, but in the opposite direction, a group of the 
largest kind of deciduous trees. All these are monotonous in themselves ; while, 
viewed in connexion and comparison with each other, they present a total lack of 
congruity. 
Nothing can be more adverse to the genuine principles of landscape disposition, 
than the system above described. Diversity of outline, of tlie form, colour, season, 
and duration of the foliage and flow^ers, is absolutely essential to the beauty of any 
scenery. Without this it appears sombre, formal, constrained ; in one word, 
unnatural: and much as the imitation of Nature has been despised by mere 
theorists, it is and must be the system pursued by all who would attain any 
eminence in this art. 
On the other hand, let it not be forgotten that a garden is the medium which 
associates artificial with natural objects ; the dwelling with the surrounding country. 
In precise accordance with this design, therefore, should be its arrangement and 
appearance. Trees growing in extensive groups, en masse, or even arboretums, 
planted without regard to the size, the appearance, or the general character of the 
plants, are inadmissable and intolerable where all is required to be harmonious, 
and to a certain extent, conformable. 
In planting ornamental trees and shrubs, (and no others should be allowed a 
place in the pleasure garden,) they should if possible be so arranged as to stand 
quite distinct from each other, that every one may be witnessed and examined 
apart from the rest, without suffering any detraction from having all parts of its 
surface exposed. They must likewise be so blended, associated, and intermingled, 
that, when viewed at a distance, they may present the appearance of an agreeable 
and diversified mass of verdure. Thes© two apparently remote objects may 
yet be concurrently accomplished. In parterres or shrubberies, of whatever 
dimensions or extent, a due regard to the known character or habits of the plants 
