REMARKS ON THE SHRUBBERY. 1 1 1 



ARTICLE VII. 



REMARKS ON THE SHRUBBERY. 



BY REV. HENRY HILL, A. M. 



(Continued from page 96.) 

 The furze bush also is one of the greatest enliveners of the shrub- 

 bery at this season, particularly when it is allowed to exhibit its 

 golden blossoms at the foot of some dark foliaged evergreen. 

 Among the trees of the background, the wych elm, the alder, the 

 Avillow, and the ozier, flower in March, at the same period, the 

 leafless branches of the almond are covered with blushing petals ; 

 whilst the sloe and plum are most conspiculously beautiful with 

 snowy blossoms, which are enhanced by contrast, if made to rise 

 from the midst of dwarf evergreens, and shaded by others of 

 taller growth. In a later season, the fruit is no less acceptable, 

 and scarcely less ornamental. 



In the early months, also, the mezereon, the dwarf almond, and 

 the pyrus japonica, give, life to the foreground, when planted 

 in little groups of three or four of each together. 



At this season of the year too, much of the beauty of the shrub- 

 bery depends on covering the banks, and feet of trees and shrubs 

 - with considerable patches of the earliest flowers. 



In February the snowdrop has for its cotemporary the crocus, 

 which is also very ornamental, when planted in such quantity as 

 to cover a large space. When scattered singly, or arranged in 

 formal bodies, its effect is entirely lost; and like a single candle, 

 in a cathedral, it seems but to cast an additional gloom over Ihr 

 scene. The banks should, therefore, be made to glow with the 

 flaming petals of the yellow crocus, whilst other spots should shine 

 with the silvery tints of the purple variety. Clumps of the winter 

 hellebore, or aconite, should also be formed on a large scale, as 

 their yellow cups, set, as it were, in green saucers, have a fine 

 effect in February. The anemone hepatica is also as beautiful as 

 hardy; and as there arc varieties with red, blue, and white flow- 

 ers, it is a plant that should be cultivated to a greater extent than 

 is usual, as an embellishment to this season. The wild wood ane- 

 mone, whose white and yellow flowers so enliven the earth at the 

 same time, maybe planted under the trees; and the primrose, 

 that so sweetly " peeps beneath the thorn," when sprinkled 

 abundantly between the shrubs and trees, gives an additional plea 



