312 
R us tic A dorn ments . 
distribution of trees or shrubs, whether singly or in masses. A sheet of water 
entirely shaded or fringed by trees would tend to render the water impure and 
stagnant, rob it of its glitter, its sparkle, and its capacity for reflecting objects 
which constitute some of its most agreeable attractions, while on the other 
band a sheet of water without any planting would look bare, cold, and 
entirely distasteful to the eye. It is almost impossible to give any definite 
rules as to the arrangement of the clumps and specimen trees, everything* 
being left to the judgment and good taste of the designer. The following 
hints, however, with the help of the subjoined diagrams, may be of use and 
interest. Firstly, it is necessary, as a rule, to throw up a bank as well as plant 
on all the promontories round the margin, otherwise the curves would appear 
needless and consequently improper; by these means also you add variety 
and intricacy, you create a feeling that there is something more to see, that 
the sheet of water must be viewed from different points in order to ascertain 
its beauty, its sparkle, its power for reflecting objects, which, as we mentioned 
above, constitute some of its most agreeable attractions. Secondly, all 
hollows, of which we shall treat directly, should be left bare, the sides, how¬ 
ever, being planted with clumps of shrubs and one or two specimen trees. 
Thirdly, great care should be taken in selecting the proper trees and shrubs, 
otherwise the grand effect produced by light and shade and the reflections of 
the branches in the water will not be obtained to its full advantage. Large 
trees, for instance, overhanging and dipping their branches into the water at 
certain points will be highly effective. 
Contrast of colour and form again requires serious consideration and 
thought. In Fig. 4 we have endeavoured to illustrate a hint or two as to the 
profile of clumps or groups which may prove of use to intending planters, 
while in Fig. 5 a suggestion has been offered as to arrangement of the various 
clumps and specimen trees. Among the trees and shrubs suitable for plant¬ 
ing around a sheet of water may be mentioned the following : Weeping kinds 
of trees are especially suitable, such as weeping willows (especially the Ameri¬ 
can kind, which is an exceedingly graceful tree, as is also the Kilmarnock 
willow), weeping birches, and beeches. Again, the Alder {Ainas g/utinosus), 
both the fern-leaved and the cut-leaved varieties; the Tamarisk {Tamarix 
gallica ), Deciduous Cypress {Taxodium distichum), Sweet Gum {Liquidamber 
Styraciflua ), and the Strawberry Tree {Arbutus Unedo), are useful for planting. 
To add colouring, large masses of flowering shrubs, such as rhododendrons, 
azaleas, laurestinus, lilacs, syringa, laburnums, double furze, and hydrangeas, 
