66 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



mutilating the roots of the shrubs. The labour and time wasted 

 in this way, if devoted to the proper culture of a portion of the 

 ground each year, would make our gardens delightful indeed. Many 

 shrubs, as fair as any flower requiring the shelter of glass, have 

 been introduced into this country ; but for the most part they have 

 been destroyed by the muddle " shrubbery." 



The idea of the murderous common shrubbery is so rooted in 

 the popular mind that it is almost hopeless to expect much change 

 tor the better. The true way is to depart wholly from it as a 



Spiraea (Belmont, Carlow). 



mass of mixed shrubs, for beautiful families should be grouped 

 apart. Each family or plant should have a separate place, free 

 from the all - devouring Privet and Laurel, and each part of the 

 shrubbery should have its own character, which may easily be 

 given to it by grouping instead of mixing, which ends in the 

 starvation of the choice kinds. The shrubbery itself need no longer 

 be a dark, dreary mass, but light and shade may play in it, its 

 varied life be well shown, and the habits and forms of each thing 

 may be seen. Shrubs of high quality or rare deserve to be well 

 grown. Any one who thinks how much less trouble is given by 



