84 CIVIC BIOLOGY 



groups. There is opportunity here for fine contrasts in form, 

 color, and character oak and weeping willow or American 

 elm, birches against white pine, etc. 



3. Plant trees or groups to screen objectionable features of 

 the landscape, and leave open spaces toward all pleasing views. 



4. Plant deciduous trees on the south and west of the house 

 for summer shade and winter sunshine, and evergreens along 

 the northerly side to serve as stormbreaks in winter. 



Shrubs. Given the bounds and main features in tastefully 

 planted trees, the shrubbery lets the picture down naturally 

 to the ground, and supplies much desired color and fragrance. 

 Shrubs, too, more than anything else form the setting for the* 

 house, fit it to the -earth, and make it a part of the landscape. 

 The house being the center of the general scheme, we should 

 place the choicest shrubs nearest to it. 



For outdoor laboratory work study throughout the fall and 

 spring, at least, good specimens of all the different ornamental 

 shrubs to be found in your local parks or neighborhood. 

 Observe them in all possible relations to trees, buildings, and 

 other shrubs, so that you will be able to choose the shrubbery 

 of a park or the home grounds with intelligent taste. 



A local planting table like that suggested for the trees 

 should be made, giving size, form, preferred exposure, and 

 color and season of bloom. A selection of shrubs may be made 

 which will furnish bloom for cutting and fine color effects in 

 either flower or fruit for not only the growing season but the 

 entire year. If it is desired to combine use and ornament, 

 a tendency growing in favor, nothing in the way of shrubbery 

 can be more effective, either in bloom or fruit, than the dwarf 

 fruit trees, especially peach, apricot, nectarine, cherry, pear, 

 and apple. Lists and descriptions of desirable shrubs for the 

 locality can be obtained from any good nursery catalogue. 



" American trees and shrubs for American homes " is a rule 

 with exceptions, but one that has much good sense in its favor. 



