88 REMARKS OS THE 9HRUBBERT. 



without adding to the harmony of the whole. A shrubbery 

 should be planted, as a court or stage stress is ornamented, for 

 general effect, and not particular and partial inspection. Bold- 

 ness of design, which seems to be more the offspring of nature 

 and chance than of art aud study, should be attempted ; but 

 though boldness is what the planter should aspire to, all harsh- 

 ness, or too great abruptness, must be avoided, by a judicious 

 mixture of plants whose colours will blend easily into one another. 



The most beautiful shrubs should occupy the most conspicuoiis 

 and prominent places. For instance, a projecting part of the 

 plantation should be reserved for the purple rhododendron, the 

 flaming azalea, and other bog plants. Here, it must be ob- 

 served, that unless proper soil be provided for these American 

 plants, the cost of the shrubs will be lost, as they will soon de- 

 cay when not placed in earth congenial to their nature. With 

 these shrubs may be planted the hardy kinds of heath, as the 

 same soil suits both species. With respect to evergreens, con- 

 siderable judgment is required, in order to ralieve their uniform 

 appearance during winter. This may be done, by skilfully ar- 

 ranging different kinds, and those with variegated leaves, or such 

 as retain their brilliant berries during the cold months. 



However, a well planted shrubbery depends not so much fol- 

 ks beauty on the expense or rarity of the plants it contains, as 

 on the selection of trees and shrubs which succeed each other 

 in blossoming throughout the year, or whose various-coloured 

 fruits grace them for the longest duration of time. We shall, there- 

 fore, not dwell upon those plants alone that are the ornaments 

 of the summer season; but also point out some that will contri- 

 bute to the gaiety of morning and evening of the year ; so that 

 the gloom may be banished at all time as much as possible from 

 the grove, and nature"s repose shortened between the plaintive 

 good-night of autumn, and the cheerful good-morrow of spring. 



The hazel and filbert are amongst the number of those trees 

 that blossom the first ; and although their crimson female flowers, 

 which appear about the middle of January, make but little show, 

 yet they should have a. place in the shrubbery to display their 

 catkins, that hang with such peculiar grace from the branches, 

 at a season when scarcely any other plant or shrub oilers a flower, 

 excepting the rosemary. 



(^To be continued,) 



