166 PLANS OF li E S I n E N C E S 



do not grow bare of leaves at the bottom. Or, if an evergreen 

 screen is preferred to these blossoming shrubs, the border may be 

 planted irregularly with the American and Siberian arbor-vitajs. 

 On the left, next to the fence, and close against it, we would plant 

 English ivy, tree-box, periwinkle, or myrtle for the first ten feet, 

 and hardy dwarf arbor-vitaes, hemlocks, and yews on the next ten 

 feet. On the right of the walk, and two feet from it, is a straight 

 bed for annual and bulbous fiowers, which is backed by a bed of 

 shrubbery running parallel with the walk, designed to shut from 

 view the kitchen drying-yard, under the cherry and pear trees. 

 This screen should be composed entirely of evergreens which can 

 be kept within seven feet in height. In the front, next to the 

 flower-bed, may be a collection, in a row, of the finest very small 

 dwarfs, of as many species as the owner desires to procure, backed 

 by a dense mass of arbor-vita?s and hardy yews intermingled. The 

 row of dwarf evergreens should in time occupy the space which is 

 marked as a bed for annuals, while the former are too small to 

 fill it. The masses of shrubs shown against the house may be of 

 common sorts which are favorites with the proprietor or Jiis family, 

 and that do not exceed seven feet in height. On the left of the 

 walk the flower-beds i, 2, and 3 may be filled, each, with one 

 species of low flowers not exceeding nine inches in height, so as to 

 make brilliant contrasts of colors. Beds 4 and 6 may be filled 

 with bulbous flowers in the spring, and later, with geraniums, 

 lantanas, or salvias. Bed 5 admits of some skill in arrangement. 

 In its centre, next to the house, we would try the Japanese striped 

 maize ; next to it a half circle of salvias ; outside of these a half 

 circle of mountain-of-snow geranium ; next, a circle of Collcus vcr- 

 schafelti, and, next the grassy margin, the Mrs. Pollock geranium. 

 Another season the same bed might be splendid with cannas alone, 

 as follows : for the centre, one plant of the blood-red canna, C. san- 

 guinea c/iatei, six feet high ; one foot from it, three plants of the C. 

 sellowi, four to five feet high ; next, a circle of the C.flaccida, three 

 feet ; and for the outer circle the C. compada elcgantissima, two feet 

 high, alternated with the C. augustifolia tiana pallida. If the occu- 

 pant of the house does not wish to obtain plants from the green- 

 house to stock these beds, they may be cheaply and prettily filled 



