FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
179 
nish a background for rare and more del¬ 
icate exotic shrubs and trees. These must 
be so arranged and planted as to do jus- 
to their peculiar individuality. 
'Openings should be left here and there 
for some striking object framed in with 
the moss-draped branches of a live-oak or 
magnolia, and the cabbage palm, which is 
remarkable for its height and dignified 
expression that only comes with age, 
should tower over the jungle to give us a 
point in the tropical sky-line. 
The tropical jungle style of gardening 
can best be applied when the grounds are 
large and spacious enough to afford mas¬ 
sive plantings and where the artificial con¬ 
struction may be so arranged as to height¬ 
en the charm of the picture and add to 
our appreciation the creative genius, for 
the skillful landscape gardener always 
aims to bring into unison the beauties of 
art and nature. 
Trying to duplicate the Northern gar¬ 
dens here in Florida is one of the great¬ 
est mistakes too many of us make. The 
general scheme, namely, border planting 
of trees and shrubs on a lawn may be fol¬ 
lowed. But this style is only to be recom¬ 
mended where the home grounds are of 
limited dimensions, such as city lots, and 
where irrigation can be supplied for the 
upkeep of the lawn; also here it holds true 
that the more trees and shrubs are ob¬ 
served and studied, the more evident it is 
that our native species give best satisfac¬ 
tion and in front of these the exotic speci¬ 
mens may be arranged to best advantage. 
To group trees and shrubs successfully 
requires the eye and skill of an artist and 
the knowledge of a botanist. A man must 
not only know how the trees look at the 
time of planting, but what forms they will 
take twenty or fifty years hence. 
A few of the northern trees and shrubs 
do well here and an occasional specimen 
may be worked in the scheme; but the 
foundation must consist of the indigenous 
growth of the State itself. A few of the 
more tender annuals found in the north¬ 
ern gardens do well and their wealth of 
bloom is harmonious with the tropic ver¬ 
dure and bright sunshine. These may be 
worked in along portions of the shrubbery 
in a tasteful manner that is pleasing to 
the eye. 
The above cited styles of gardens come 
under the general style of naturalistic 
gardens. Here we strive for a natural 
effect by massing the varieties decided 
upon and grouping them for contrasting 
color; but the appropriate massing of foli¬ 
age, so as to secure the best effect, from 
soft, harmonious or bold contrasts of color 
requires much study and critical knowl¬ 
edge. The arrangement of walks and 
drives must be as direct and inconspicu¬ 
ous as possible and the first and funda¬ 
mental study is to provide for human use, 
for comfort and convenience. 
The modern or naturalistic style of gar¬ 
dening may be defined to be the forming 
of artificial scenes on principles learned 
from natural ones, although the copying 
of the natural prospect is not feasible, it 
is there that the principles of our art are 
based, whether they are applied to the 
smallest city lot or the largest park, and 
it is there that we must go for instruction, 
either from its beauties or imperfections. 
It is there only that the aspect of nature, 
