Trees and Shrubs 75 



drive to permit them to spread out their branches. 

 These rules also admit of exceptions, and I take 

 occasion here once for all to warn against pe- 

 dantry. Nulla regiila sine exceptione. But to allow 

 one's self exceptions, one must all the more be 

 familiar with the rule. Thus, it is not advisable 

 in the long run to increase by the addition of 

 young trees plantations which have grown old. 

 They are apt neither to look well nor do well; 

 yet at times it is necessary. In that case a por- 

 tion of the older trees should be removed and 

 some rather large specimens of the younger trees 

 planted in wedge form in gradation, whereby the 

 transition from the old to the new soon disap- 

 pears. For the same reason some of the older 

 and inferior trees on the border should often be 

 cleared away and replaced by a younger growth 

 until the disagreeable sharpness of the division is 

 quite lost. 



I will add a few words here on the shrubberies 

 made up of flowering shrubs and perennial plants 

 and annuals : — 



(i) It is better in general, but not always, to 

 group one kind in connected masses instead of 

 planting too many single and isolated specimens. 



(2) With such masses it is especially advisable 

 to cover over conspicuous points of shrubbery 

 with a lower growth, connecting it with higher 

 shrubs in such a manner that these shrubs shall 

 not stand detached and appear intentionally 

 placed there. 



(3) Only those plants should be grouped to- 



