Shrubs, Hedges, and Hardy Climbers 83 



TWO METHODS OF GROUPING 



Two methods of grouping are commonly practised, i.e., 

 I St, the grouping of many flowering varieties in one mass 

 whereby some kinds may be in bloom at all times from 

 April to November, and 2d, the arrangement of large masses 

 of one species or variety together so as to produce very 

 marked and distant effect. The former will generally give 

 the most satisfaction on small grounds, but on places of 

 considerable extent the most pleasing results will be obtained 

 by planting many specimens of one kind in a group. For 

 example, large groups of Forsythias, Spiraea Van Houttei, 

 Hydrangea paniculata, Japanese snowball, etc., arranged in 

 large masses by themselves, present beautiful views and 

 strong contrasts that cannot be obtained in any other way. 



At the entrance of the grounds, as in Fig. 43, beside the 

 walk or drive, or at their forkings, as in Fig: 35, groups of 

 shrubs fix our attention and we pass on or change from 

 one walk to another less conscious of the change of direc- 

 tion than if only the plain walk was before us. 



Another use of shrubs may be found in their serving to 

 give a reason for abrupt changes of direction or the termina- 

 tion of a walk, as shown in Figs. 36 and 37, and also to make 

 a curved walk on small grounds appear the most natural 

 and the shortest distance between two points, as in Fig. 34. 



Change of curves in walks are made to appear more 

 natural if the borders are more or less decorated with shrubs 

 at points where there would be a temptation to cut across 

 to shorten the distance, as in Fig. 34. They also serve to 

 cover up and break the monotony of the walk by obscuring 

 changes until it becomes necessary for one to make the turn 

 to reach one point or another. A combined group of trees 

 and shrubs illustrating the shrubs planted a little way 

 from the trees is shown in Fig. ^i. 



