CHAPTER XXVI 

 PLANTS THAT MAY BE USED 



There are many plants that are useful for decorative pur- 

 poses. One should choose such as are easily obtained and 

 inexpensive. Oddities are usually out of place in small 

 grounds. The forest, thicket, river and creek bank, old fence 

 rows, and other neglected places will furnish the best trees, 

 shrubs, and wild flowers. One can well take a lesson from 

 Nature's method of planting and beautifying landscapes. 

 Wild plants should usually be moved in the autumn. Seeds 

 of wild flowers can be sown in the autumn or during the winter. 



Of the trees, the common forest trees are quite appropriate 

 and, as a rule, are easily transplanted. For small grounds 

 those which grow slowly and do not grow too tall are best. 

 Elm, sugar, and soft maples, oaks, bass-wood, ash, coffee nut, 

 birch, buckeye, and many others may be used. The Norway 

 maple, cut-leaved weeping maple, cut-leaved weeping birch, 

 and Kilmarnock weeping willow may be obtained from nur- 

 series. Arbor vitse, the spruces and pines, cedar, fir, and 

 juniper are evergreens that grow easily and are quite effective 

 as screens. Evergreens in large numbers should not be used. 



Of the shrubs that may be used the following are some of 



the best: the wild thorn or red haw, red bud, wild crab-apple, 



iron-wood, wild rose, and wild laurel. From the nurseries 



the following may be obtained: lilac, snowball, spirea, rose, 



barberry, and fragrant currant. Clematis, grape, trumpet- 



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