94 TREES AND SHRUBS 



apt to grow somewhat straggling, but the crowded 

 little branches are the very thing that is wanted 

 through the winter as cut greenery to go with winter 

 flowers, whether hardy or from under glass. If 

 these are cut a foot long the bush is kept in shape, 

 and a valuable supply of stuff for house decoration 

 is provided. 



A half or even quarter acre of well-arranged 

 planting of these gold-variegated shrubs has a sur- 

 prisingly cheery effect in winter, making a kind of 

 sunlight of its own when skies are grey, and a com- 

 fortable shelter when winds are keen. 



In summer, too, it will be beautiful if the spaces 

 between the shrubs are cleverly planted, for pre- 

 ference, with plants of white or pale-yellow flowers, 

 such as White Foxglove, (Enothera lamarckiana, white 

 and pale-yellow Hibiscus ficifolius, Liliums auratum, 

 giganteum, speciosum, and longifolium ; White Everlast- 

 ing Pea trained loosely through any near branches ; 

 Nicotiana affinis and N. sylvestris; and close to the 

 path hardy Ferns of pale-green frondage, such as 

 the Lady Fern ; with clumps of plants of golden 

 foliage like the Gold Valerian and Gold Nettle. A 

 shrub of variegated foliage, planted without special 

 attention, and coming suddenly in a grouping of 

 others of an average green colour is made unduly 

 conspicuous. It should be led up to by neighbours 

 whose colouring gradually assimilates with its own. 

 The sudden effect of colouring is all very well in 

 the nurseryman's show borders, where the object 

 is to attract attention to showy individuals, but in 



