for February, 1921 



479 



THE QUESTIONNAIRE 



Subscribers are invited to make free use 

 of this department to solve problems that 

 may arise xn their garden work. Questions 

 on the ordinary piirsuits of gardening, that 

 can be readily answered by applying to the 

 usual reference books should not be re- 

 ferred to the Questionnaire, 



Here and There 



SHRUBS UNDER TREES. 



The question is often asked, what shnib 

 will grow well under trees? In making a 

 selection of shrubs for such a purpose it is 

 necessary to know whether the trees are of 

 dense growth, like the Evergreen Oak or 

 Beech, under which very few plants will 

 thrive, or thin-headed trees, like the False 

 Acacia or Ash. under which numerous kinds 

 may be grown. As a general rule, most 

 shining-leaved shrubs will thrive as under- 

 growth beneath the shade of trees, 

 but, in any case, the soil must be well pre- 

 pared for them at the outset. If the large 

 trees have been planted wilhin recent years, 

 and the soil is tolerably good, but little 

 preparation is necessary beyond deep dig- 

 ging ; but if the trees are large and old. 

 then the soil will be found over-run with 

 roots and impoverished. In this case fresh 

 soil should be substituted (say from 9 

 inches to 12 inches deep), and in this the 

 shrubs intended for undergrowth should be 

 planted. The small shrubs should be vig- 

 orous and with plenty of roots, and the best 

 lime to plant is during September and Octo- 

 ber, allowing the leaves that fall from the 

 trees to remain among tliem through the 

 ^\'intcr. The choice may be made from the 

 following list : Common Holly, Berberis 

 aquifoUuin or Mahonia, common Box, 

 Oval-leaved Privet. Portugal Laurel, Rho- 

 dodendron ponticum (if no chalky matter 

 is in the soil), Cotoncaster Siiiionsi, Skiiii- 

 niia oblata, Berberis Danvini, Berberis ja- 

 ponica, and common Yew. All these are 

 evergreen. For very dense shade I have 

 found nothing better than the Butcher's 

 Broom {Rusctis aciileatus), with an under- 

 growth of the creepin.g St. John's-wort 

 (Hypericum colycinuin) , Periwinkle and 

 Ivy. The common English Ivy grows natu- 

 rally in dense shade, but the Irish Ivy has 

 a bolder effect. Gaiiltlieria Shallon may be 

 planted in light or peaty moist soil, and a 

 good carpet-like growth may be had of 

 Euonymus radieans and its variegated 

 form. There arc few Summer-leafing shrubs 

 that grow well under trees. — Gardening 

 llhistraled. 



COLOR IN THE GARDEN IN 

 WINTER. 



The introduction of new species and va- 

 rieties of hardy trees and shrubs is gratify- 

 ing, especially in regard to kinds which 

 allow of effective display during the Winter. 

 Beauty of form and color are not obtained 

 by the massing of evergreens. A judicious 

 planting of both deciduous and evergreen 

 species is desirable ; these tnay be grouped 

 either separately or to.gether. Each type 

 provides admirable specimens. Light, space 

 and contrasts arc essentials in the relief of 

 sornbre scenes; therefore, first consider the 

 existing arrangement of the background, or 

 outskirts of the garden. The stems of trees 

 having a distinctive form of coloring, such 

 as a Silver Birch or a Gnarled Oak, should 

 be clearly visible, and subjects planted in 



QjiiliSi€^^MdAy 



SUTTON'S Flower and Vegetable Seeds are 

 more than fertile seeds — they are seeds of 

 an established excellence only possible to 

 attain by many years of careful selection from 

 the best specimens grown in our grounds. 



If you are desirous of seeds better in quality 

 than those usually obtainable, send 35c. for our 

 Garden Guide. It catalogs and illustrates flowers 

 and vegetables such as are seldom seen out- 

 side of England, unless produced from the first 

 generation of English grown seed. 



The 35c. which is less than the cost of pro- 

 ducing the catalog will be refunded to you with 

 your first $5.00 order. Free to gardeners who 

 will send name, and name of employer. 



MiMjO^tytd^ 



Cflixs 



Royal Seed Establishment 



Reading, England 



Amcrnan RctrcseiitiUires 

 H. P. Winter & Co. 

 64-G Wall Street 

 New York. N. Y. 



The Sherman T. Blake Co. 



429-G Sacramento Street 



San Francisco. Cal. 



RHODODENDRON MAXIMUM 

 KALMIA LATIFOLIA 



Northern GroWH Stock 



in CuIm.mI Lots 



NURSERY GROWN 

 TSUGA CANADENSIS 



Bi.y your stock direct from the grower. 



Sciul 'or price list. 



The Charles G. Curtis Company 



(.(illicDon I\urspries, 



CALLICOON. N. Y. 



Full Line of Choice 

 VEGETABLE and FLOWER 



SEEDS 



at Pre-War Prices 



Also special mixtures of rcclcaned 

 lawn grass seed. 



Write for in-\v catalojruc of 



SEEDS, BULBS, PLANTS & 

 GARDENERS' REQUISITES 



JOHN WILK 



155 West 33rd St., New York City 



