The Planting of Shrubbery. 



513 



Miuli the same effects could have been secured, and with much 

 less trouble, by laving two flour barrels end to end and standing 

 a third one between them. 



I must hasten to say that I have not the slightest objection to 

 the shearing of trees. The only trouble is in calling the practice 

 art, and in putting the trees where people must see them. If the 

 operator simply calls the business shearing, and puts the things 

 where he and others who like them may see them, objection could 

 not be raised. Some persons like painted stones, others like iron 

 bulldogs in the front yard and the word " welcome " worked into 

 the door-mat, and others like barbered trees. So long as these 

 likes are pureh' personal, it would seem to be better taste to put 

 such curiosities in the back yard, where the owner may admire 

 them without molestation. 





160. — A good combination. 



I do not mean to discourage the use of flowers and bright foli- 

 age and striking forms of vegetation ; but these things are never 

 primary considerations in a good place. The structural elements 

 of the place are designed first. The flanking and bordering 

 masses are then planted. Finally, the flowers and accessories 

 are put in, in just the same way that a house is painted after it is- 

 built. Flowers appear to best advantage when seen against a 

 background of foliage, and they are then, also, an integral part 

 of the picture. The flower garden, as such, should be at the rear 

 or side of a place, the same as all other strictly personal appur- 

 tenances are; but flowers and bright leaves may be freely scat- 

 tered along the borders and near the foliage masses. Fig. 156 (at 



the beginning of the bulletin) is a model in this respect. 



33 



