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into small beds of shrubs, which ought not to be the case, unless they are 

 planted together for present effect, and with the view of eventually allowing 

 the trees to remain, and of clearing all the shrubs away, except such as are 

 necessary for association with the trees, letting the lawn take possession, or 

 obliterate what was the bed or earthy part. Such large trees in a small dug- 

 bed, may be compared to an overgrown geranium overbalancing the small 

 garden pot it first occupied in its infantine state. 



In the case of shrub beds on the lawn, or other shrub masses, which are 

 intended, eventually, not to show a hard line, or earthy part, but to blend 

 softly and naturally with the lawn, there are many shrubs of stiff unpleasing 

 habit ill calculated to effect this object, and which, certainly, ought not to take 

 the front, though they may be deemed desirable, in consequence of their 

 showy or odoriferous blossoms. Such are the lilac, Deutzia scabra, budlea, 

 brooms, roses, spireas, and all plants of similarly uninteresting forms or habits; 

 but they may be introduced with good effect, if judiciously fronted by other 

 shrubs, of better outline. The following are well calculated for that purpose, 

 and yet so dwarfish in habit that the interest of the shrubs I have named will 

 not be lessened, but improved, by their occupying the front ranks (as shown 

 in the chapter on Shrub Beds) : — Mahonia aquifolia, Arbutus regia, spreading 

 savins, dwarf St. John's wort, Cottoneaster microphilla, Berberis impetrifolia, 

 perriwinkle, spreading brooms, Daphne cneorum, heaths of sorts, Andro- 

 meda polyfolia, Rhododendron ferrugineum, and hirsutum. These will cover 

 the earthy part, and form a natural, soft, harmonious connection with the 

 lawn. 



