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front of a shrubbery in some bold bend, tbere to be permitted to form its own 

 boundary line on the grass. In this way, its deep tone and compact massive 

 form would be a good deal softened, and be more admired than when detached 

 so as to be backed by a building, or when seen marking out its formal figure 

 on the horizon. I think it would be wrong to place associates near it, or, at 

 least, in front of it, as that would lessen its dignity ; but, occasionally, the 

 laurustinus, holly, and Phillyrea ilex, Phillyrea oppositifolia, and Mahonia 

 aquifolia, may associate with it well, if w^e are careful to place the Portugal 

 laurel a little in advance, as the principal plant, and at a distance not 

 to be encroached upon by its neighbours. 



The Common Laurel (Cerasus laaroccrasus) is a most lively, glossy, 

 loose-growing evergreen, producing beautiful spikes of white blossoms. It is 

 indispensable for forming thickets, and, now and then, detached bushes on 

 the lawn ; grouping with the laurustinus, alaternus, or rhododendron. There 

 are two small-leaved varieties, which are also good bright evergreens ; the 

 very smallest make nice front plants, and are suitable for small beds. 



The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus), the unedo, and unedo rubra, make 

 large, handsome, evergreen bushes, and are quite hardy. The former produces 

 small bell-shaped flowers, of a greenish-white; the latter, of a pinky-red: 

 both kinds bear strawberry-like fruit, which adds much to their beauty in the 

 autumnal months. It would be proper to group three or four together, 

 including both varieties ; and one, or more, may be grouped with one or two 

 rhododendrons, Azalea pontica, or Garrya eliptica. 



The Arbutus regia is a hardy, spreading, dwarf evergreen, with small 

 white flowers. It forms a nice bush, planted on the lawn, or is well adapted 

 to front a thicket in a shrubbery, or form masses in wilder kept pleasure 

 grounds. 



The Aucuba Japonica is a fine, large, singularly showy, and hardy ever- 

 green shrub. Its yellow- and- green marbled foliage gives it a striking and 

 lively appearance, differing materially from any other shrub. It will thrive in 

 almost any situation, and will bear the smoke of towns better than any other 

 evergreen ; indeed, I have seen it flourish well on a lawn at the back of a 

 mansion, where the sun scarcely ever reached it. Consequently, it is most 

 valuable for such situations, besides being an invaluable undergrowth, and 

 forming thickets. It thrives well, also, in situations more fully exposed to the 



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