312 THE GARDENER. [July 



to grow and develop naturally. When the plant attains a fair size, 

 its growths are very regular all over, and no stopping is required, unless 

 it is done so as to cause a much longer succession of blooms on the 

 same plant. It enjoys a little shade while growing during the hottest 

 part of the day; at the same time, it should have abundance of light^ 

 Shading can be dispensed with as growth is completed, so that the 

 wood may be well ripened. 



Small plants can be grown in 5 and 6 inch pots, and look well for 

 decoration when bushy. They will flower as freely when small as 

 when grown into larger plants. Wm. Baedney. 



SHRUBBERIES. 



Shrubs and shrubberies have become institutions as settled as they 

 can very well be under our regime of recurring cold winters, during 

 which the shrubs are emasculated or shortened over, or entirely cut 

 down. The inventor of shrubberies evidently arrived at the ultimate 

 limit of the average human mind with regard to this question ; for he 

 has had imitators without number in past times, and they are as 

 plentiful at the present day. There are, of course, minor features 

 of detail to be found, but the main features are alike and unchange- 

 able. The lines for the proposed shrubbery bed or border are laid- 

 down, the ground prepared, and the shrubs planted in regular order 

 and at regular distances, like so many vegetables of uncertain breed. 

 Weeds are kept down with the greatest severity, or allowed to flourish 

 more or less, according to the exigencies of the labour power, until the 

 shrubs themselves put an end to the fitful struggle by smothering the 

 unfortunate weeds. And then they begin amongst themselves to fight 

 the battle of the fittest, until an extra-severe winter recurs and thins 

 out the half-smothered tenderlings ; and for a few years longer the 

 Laurels and Yews have peace, and the Hawthorns and the Lilacs revel 

 in plenty, and give an abundant return of sweetest odours, until these 

 now large monsters approach and touch each other, and are choked for 

 want of air above and food beneath ; when some day — as no amount of 

 rough pruning will prevent their straggly limbs from being seen — the 

 whole are decapitated, and a fresh lot of youngsters are set in amongst 

 them to fill the spaces, until the rapidly growing giants again assert 

 themselves, and the smothering process is renewed. With variations 

 these processes are going on throughout the length and breadth of 

 the country. Landscape-gardeners, with their carefully prepared plans,, 

 may fill in their shrubberies with plants, some of which are to be per- 

 manent in their occupancy, and the greater number tenants at will;, 

 but the worst of these arrangements is that the "padding" is never 

 removed, and the shrubbery when full-grown is only a mass of crowded 

 specimens; and all along the newly planted groups are treated in the 



