CHOOSING SHRUBS AND SMALL TREES 131 



you will get stock that is hardy and will be pretty 

 sure to thrive. Plant shrubs in the Fall if possible, 

 in October or November, or in the very early 

 Spring; and always protect the roots for the first 

 Winter with a good dressing of straw or coarse 

 litter. 



Closely pruned shrubs are prim looking and 

 ugly; the natural growth is pretty sure to be more 

 graceful than any that you can encourage by the 

 shears. The fantastically clipped forms that were 

 common in the Roman gardens and the gardens 

 of the Renaissance, and that were over-extensively 

 used in England up to the middle of the last 

 century, are out of place on small grounds; they 

 make them look top-heavy. Avoid the badly 

 pleached Box that is offered to-day in so many 

 nurseries, for they are poor imitations and detract 

 from the true value of the garden. Try if you will 

 to get the old, round forms that are found in the 

 old dooryards, but do not buy pyramids and 

 standards. 



Cut away the dead wood from shrubs in the 

 Spring; and it will be necessary often to cut back 

 the Mock-orange, for its growth is apt to be rank 



