PLANTATIONS 89 



practice of cultivating and watering them, which is un- 

 fortunately often neglected, should be at once encour- 

 aged, to prevent death from drought or hot suns, or per- 

 haps only the inception of a stunted condition that many 

 years ^\i\\ often fail to overcome. Tree guards, and 

 stakes for keeping the trees firm and straight in high 

 \^'inds, should be duly set as soon as the operation of 

 planting has been completed. It is a good idea to raise 

 the beds or territories in which trees and shrubs are 

 intended to be gro"«Ti, six inches to a foot, for the pur- 

 pose of good drainage and the better display of their 

 attractions in mass. 



It has been already intimated that herbaceous plants 

 that grow and die down every year may play a special 

 and most important part in the general harmony of lawn 

 effects. Their proper place is generally found in irreg- 

 ular borders along the front of shrub groups and in the 

 angles, or along the base of the house or other out- 

 buildings, and at the foot of walls and fences. 



In presenting a statement of the proper relation of the 

 different plantations on the la\Mi, we would say, first, 

 grass ; next above, herbaceous plants, and then shrubs of 

 a comparatively small size ; and, finally, large shrubs, 

 \\ith trees at considerable intervals throughout their 

 mass. An arrangement of hardy plants made in this way 

 mil be seen, on experiment, to be more harmonious and 

 effective than either of the classes employed would look 

 if set out alone. 



In many places, both in public parks and private 

 grounds of small size, and especially in those located in 

 rural-looking territories and spots, the substitution of 

 vines and low shrubs in place of ordinary grass borders 

 may be practi-sed successfully \\ith economy and excellent 



