88 How to Lay Out 



account of the soil conditions or aspects not being perfect. 

 If trees are near the flower bed, the shade may cause trouble 

 or the roots of the tree may sap the soil of all nourishment 

 unless a liberal supply of manure is added each year. In plan- 

 ning, choose and arrange the plants so that there will be a 

 succession of bloom. 



There is often difficulty in arranging the color scheme to 

 avoid the clash of inharmonious colors. The free use of white 

 flowering kinds is a great help in reconciling the warring colors. 

 In natural planting, every effort should be made to avoid 

 straight lines or rows so as to obviate the stiff formal effect. 



In planting, allow them room enough to grow, and do not 

 put the taller growing plants in front of the lower growing 

 varieties. Start with the taller growing plants and then edge 

 down to the lower growing kinds, but not in ranks or tiers. 

 Try to get variety in outline and sky line. 



Herbaceous perennials need a good, deep, rich soil. It is 

 well to make the bed 2 feet in depth and add a quantity of 

 good well rotted stable or cow manure. There is little care 

 needed except to occasionally remove the weeds and in the fall 

 give a coating of manure for winter protection. There are a 

 few kinds of jwrennials that are better moved and divided 

 once every three or four years, but, as a rule, the plants should 

 be left undisturbed. 



In addition to herbaceous perennials a few bulbs such as 

 scilla. hyacinth, and crocus planted along tl : the border 



and in the grass give an early promise of spring. Care must 

 be taken, however, not to mow the grass in the spring until the 

 bulbs have ripened and sets formed for the next year. 



"How long before the shrubs will he full grown?" That 

 depends upon the particular plant. As a rule, the first year 

 the plants are set out they Ix-come established and get a new 

 root system, the second year there is a fair growth of the 

 branches, the third year the plants ought to show flowers and 

 be in good condition. 



