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THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



the beauty of form and line in a single twig or branch, with its 

 natural habit shown, apart from any beauty and form or colour 

 its flow^ers may have. This is important, in view of the many 

 shrubs that flower in our climate in spring, and of which, if flower- 

 ing shoots are cut when in bud, the flowers open slowly and 

 well in the house. They are best placed in Japanese bronze or 

 other opaque jars. The taller Japanese bronze jars with narrow 



Foliage of Evergreen hardy plant (Epimedium.) 



necks are very useful for these, and it is an excellent practice to 

 cut the bud-laden shoots of Sloe, Plum, Apple, Crab, and like plants, 

 and put them in jars to bloom in the house. By this means we ad- 

 vance their blooming time ; and, in the case of severe weather 

 the beauty of early shrubs may be lost to us unless we adopt this 

 plan. We see how well the French practice of growing Lilac in 

 the dwelling house prolongs the beauty of this shrub, and it is not 

 difficult to do something of the kind for the hardy shrubs and early 



