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THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



cut the bud-laden shoots of Sloe, Plum, Apple, Crab, and like plants, 

 and put them in jars to bloom in the house. By this means we 

 advance their blooming time ; and, in the case of severe weather, 

 the beauty of early shrubs may be lost to us unless we adopt this 

 plan. We see how well the French practice of growing Lilac in 

 the dwelling-house prolongs the beauty of this shrub, and it is not 



Foliage of Evergreen hardy plant (Epimedium) 



difficult to do something of the kind for the hardy shrubs and early 

 trees that come with the Daffodils, but are not so well able to brave 

 the climate. These shoots of early shrubs are also usually best 

 arranged each by itself, though some go well together, and graceful 

 leaves of evergreens may be used with them. One advantage of 

 dealing with one flower at a time is that we show and do not 

 conceal the variety of beauty we have. For, if all are thrown together, 

 that variety will be much less evident than if we make clear the 



