THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 409 



entire area, reminding one of a thinned-out thicket. G-radually as the taste 

 for landscape gardening grew on the minds of our people, grouping was sub- 

 stituted for the formal style, and natural clumps and belts of shrubbery suc- 

 ceeded, which ])leased the eye by its pretty contrasts of color and form, and we 

 thought we had arrived at perfection. Of late years, however, still another 

 style has been adopted, which is a decided improvement on any system pre- 

 viously practiced. The shrubs are planted with plenty of room, in belts or masses, 

 and herbaceous plants of a sub-tropicul aspect are introduced among them. 

 The shrubs themselves should consist of such kinds as are remarkably striking, 

 even when not in bloom, as for instance the variegated leaved wiegelia.. purple- 

 leaved burberry, purple hazel, cut-leaved lilac, etc.; or some species with 

 remarkably showy bloom as the hydrangea grandiflora, cydonia japonica, tree- 

 psBonies, etc. ISometimcs very pretty effects are produced JDy introducing a low- 

 growing Kilmarnock willow or dwarf weeping cherry. But the greatest charm 

 connected with these groups is in the rare contrasts formed by planting 

 among the above such graceful plants as the variegated zebra-striped eulalias, 

 pampas grass, erianthes ravennse, panicum virgatum, or arundo donax. Then 

 there should be a few bold subjects suggesting a sub-tropical appearance, as for 

 instance cannas, in variety, ricinus, wigandias, colocasias, yuccas, and even 

 tobacco and sunflowers are not amiss. An occasional lily, gladiolus, and tube- 

 rose stem peeping up above the surrounding foliage will lend an attrac-tion to 

 the picture, which, when artistically arranged, cannot but please the most fas- 

 tidious taste. 



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Continuing this subject we cull as follows from the Country Gentleman: 

 It is a source of gratification to all who are interested in the promotion of any 

 refining influence in the community at large, to witness the gradual advance- 

 ment of ornamental gardening through every part of the country. We may see 

 this illustrated in riding through our villages. Twenty years ago, scarcely 

 one dwelling in twenty presented beautiful house plants in the windows. Now, 

 in some places at least, there is scarcely one in twenty that is destitute of them. 

 The tall grass and Aveeds which grew in door yards have given place to the 

 green carpets of smooth lawns. There is also in some places an earnest effort 

 to make the public streets put on an air of respectability and finish by abolish- 

 ing rubbish heaps and rank weeds, and replacing them with smooth grass and 

 shade trees. It would be interesting information to know how many lawn 

 mowers have been bought within the past ten or even five years. Their influence 

 is visibly seen. The editor of the Gardener's Monthly enumerates some of the 

 causes, which have operated in promoting the present improvement, and among 

 them he names the agency of periodical works, the influence of the Centennial 

 at Philadelphia, the work of the tree agent, "who brought nice things to the 

 most impossible places," the liberal postage laws, by the aid of which myriads 

 of flowering plants are growing everywhere, to which may be added the admir- 

 able examples afi'orded in the ornamental grounds which a few men of taste 

 have presented to their neighbors, bringing out a dormant passion in many 

 minds which is sure to grow and spread. Nurserymen and seedsmen deserve 

 a large share of credit for the dissemination of trees and plants and the taste 

 to grow them. Mr. Meehan seems disposed to ascribe much of this reform 

 movement to the ladies and to agree with the remark of the German stage 

 driver, who said when a pretty flower garden was pointed out to the travelers, 

 " Vcre dey haf vimins, viewers always ish." 



