CHAP. X VILLA GARDENING 59 



Azalea amoena and A. a. spleiulens are low bushes with small 

 crimson flowers, excellent for rockery or for front plants in the 

 American border. 



I have often thought if instead of the owners of gardens 

 following in each other's track so blindly, or permitting the 

 fashionable landscape gardener to lay down everywhere his lead- 

 ing idea, they would think a little for themselves, and then give 

 shape to their thoughts in their gardens, and follow out this 

 thought, those who loved hardy things, whether of flower, tree, or 

 shrub, might find a good deal of scope for their energies in the 

 garden of American plants. Devoting oneself to any special 

 object would lead to more variety in gardens generally. The Kal- 

 mias. Ledums, Menziesia (Irish Heaths), Pernettyas, Vacciniums, 

 Andromedas, are all fine sulijects for the American garden, and 

 will succeed under hke conditions to the Rhododendrons and 

 Azaleas. The hardy Heaths are a numerous and most interesting 

 family, well adapted for occupying front positions. 



Selecting Trees and Shrubs. — Before leaving this part of 

 my subject, I should like to say a few words upon the importance 

 of planting none but healthy, well-formed specimens. There is a 

 certain percentage of weaklings in all races of living things, and 

 in the case of trees and shrubs the judicious planter casts them on 

 one side. No amount of skill can develop the constitutionally 

 weak into strong, healthy, full-grown specimens. This to some 

 may be a matter of small importance, as a tree is a tree, even if 

 it be small and deformed. In selecting those of spiral habit, such 

 as the Cupressus, Biota, Arborvitse, etc., take none but those which 

 have been trained to one central stem. Those trees which have 

 developed several leaders will be an endless source of trouble as 

 they grow old and have to meet the full force of the wind. And 

 as regards what has been happily termed pictorial trees, they 

 should possess strong, healthy, well-formed stems, and evenly- 

 balanced heads. Selected plants may cost a little more in the 

 first instance, as everybody must be paid for work done ; but the 

 result will be, under all circumstances, more satisfactory. 



