GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF HARDY SHRUBS, ETC. 341 



account for a large number of dead plants, and a still greater 

 number of unhealthy ones. The mowings of the grass were 

 swept to the beds on which the plants were growing, and left 

 all round them to heat and rot there, under the silly notion 

 that rotting grass would act as a manure, and nourish the 

 plants. Of course it had destroj^ed many, and we left our 

 opinion in a book which was handed to visitors for the 

 purpose of noting their opinions and advice. Whether the 

 destructive system was abandoned or not, we have had no 

 means of kno"\Adng ; but it appeared to us to be akin to insanity 

 to constantly keep a dank heap of rotting grass round the roots 

 of tender young shrubs, completely shutting out the air, and 

 keeping them wet ; but the result was palpable. A great 

 quantity of labels told us what had been on the spot, and we 

 suggested to an attendant that somebody should go round and 

 paint on the labels "In Memory of" whatever plant was 

 named thereon. Most likely many of the departed have been 

 renewed, but nothing could be more destructive of the erica 

 family, of which, however, very few remained ahve, and not 

 one in good health. Standard specimens may have the grass 

 made good to their stems ; first for appearance, and next 

 because they do just as well as they would in beds, perhaps 

 better. It may be well enough to leave a circle of uncovered 

 soil while the tree gets estabhshed, because strong stakes must 

 be driven down to keep it in its place ; but as soon as trees 

 are estabhshed, they may have the grass made good. Where 

 evergreens are planted in families, and a regular group has to 

 be formed, they do best in an uncovered clump, which must 

 be kept constantly weeded : a foul bottom does more harm in 

 a month than years will undo, if, indeed, it is ever undone. 

 American plants only want the knife when some branch is 

 taking a liberty with the rest of the shrub ; but to be bushy, 

 they must be checked when any part of them wants to wander 

 abroad. Rhododendrons and azaleas are very apt to do this ; 

 a branch takes the lead, grows rapidly, quite beyond the 

 general surface of the plant, and, if neglected, makes it down- 

 right ugly ; but the check should be given before the growth 

 has progressed much, so that, when stopped, the new growth 

 w^ithin bounds may be completed. Perhaps the best time to 

 prune all shmbs of the kind is directly you have had the 

 bloom perfected and it has decayed, and before the young 

 growth has made any progress, because the growth is then 



