I89I. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



211 



ing. One of these is regarding: the kind of 

 stock to plant for early effects. 



Hardt Flowering Shhurs. By the charts 

 it will be observed, that as a rule, the flowering 

 shrubs have quickly developed into large strong 

 specimens. It is a fact that some of the choicest 

 species and varieties of this class, stand at the 

 very head of hard-wooded plants as strong 

 growers. There is hardly a shrub named in the 

 catalogues which does not with fair treatment 

 develop rapidly. 



There is this advantage of hardy slu-ubs also, 

 that they reach complete maturity of appear- 

 ance, in a fraction of the time required by 

 ordinary trees like Maples, 

 Oaks or Elms. The Weigelas, 

 Forsythias, Japan Quince, 

 Calycanthus and others shown 

 on the charts, with dozens of 

 species not illustrated were 

 at 26 months from planting, 

 as mature, in form, blooming 

 qualities, and general beauty 

 as they ever will be. Years 

 will add to their size it can- 

 not to their fine qualities in 

 all other respects. 



The Massing of Shrubs. 

 On the right band chart are 

 shown two groups of shrub- 

 bery, which afford the key 

 note for early strong effects 

 with this class; namely, the 

 planting of shrubs in masses. 

 The upper group represents 

 a circular bed 16 feet across, 

 planted with ten Blood-leaved 

 Japan Plum (Pntniis Pissar- 

 (Ji), surrounded by 20 Varie- 

 gated-leaved Cornelian 

 Cherry. This group to-day 28 

 months from planting pre- 

 sents a mass of thick, mag- 

 nificent verdue more than 

 eight feet high. It would 

 prove a complete and striking 

 object in any grounds even 

 such as abound in trees, a 

 half century 01; more old. It 

 is by all odds the most at- 

 tractive object on our grounds 

 now; a fact in part accounted 

 for by the brilliant coni rast- 

 ing colors of the foliage. 



.Another strong group is 

 that occupying an irregular 

 bed about 16 feet across and 

 of the same depth, shown 

 lower down on the chart. This 

 is planted chiefly with that 

 beautiful dark-leaved shrub 

 Golden Bell(For.«y(?iin veridis- 

 sima) and the contrasting 

 light Variegated-leaved Wei- 

 gela both being shrubs of 

 handsome appearance and excellent habit. At 

 26 months from planting nothing could exceed 

 the beautiful and mature aspect of this bold com- 

 pact group, fully five feet high and a rod across. 

 The shrubs were profusely covered with bloom 

 in the recent flowering season. 



Without speaking in detail of the hundreds of 

 other fine shrubs on our grounds, some of which 

 may be alluded to in later issues, it may be said 

 that all were planted in groups of varied form, 

 size and character, and throughout their effec- 

 tiveness approximates to that of the cases de- 

 scribed. Given plenty ot flowering shrubs, with 

 the opportunity to arrange them in masses and 

 the most wonderful effects can be counted upon, 

 as early as the second mar after planting. 



Another thing to be mentioned in favor of 

 shrubbery is the low first cost; the prices aver- 

 age hardly above one-third that of deciduous 

 trees. 



EvEHOBEENS. Noxt to the deciduous flower- 

 ing shrubs alluded to, the evergreens, or coni- 

 fers we should say, (for the Larches, which are 

 not evergreen, belong to the class.) are placed 

 for quickly maturing effects Of the five kinds 

 represented on the charts, namely. White Pine, 

 Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine, Red Cedar, and 

 European Larch, some of which 26 months from 

 planting are six feet high, not one was two feet 

 in height when planted, while the White Pine 

 and Spruce were but 15 inches high at that time. 

 These are also growing in large masses consist- 

 ing usually of from five to twenty plants of a 

 kind. Taken collectively they present an ap- 

 pearance of surprising strength. We have be- 

 fore in these notes spoken of the handsome 



aspect of the groups on our grounds composed 

 of fine evergreens. 



Decidcous Trees. Notwithstanding such 

 trees as the Lindens (shown on the left-hand 

 chart) the Pin Oak and the American Elm, have 

 on our grounds made a very fine growth, yet it 

 must be admitted, that in the nature of things, 

 it would take some time to obtain strong affects 

 were planters to rely solely upon this class. Did 

 flowering shrubs grow no faster than such 

 trees as the Elm (they grow very much faster 

 for some years after planting) they would still 

 be superior for early effects, because admitting 

 by nature of close planting in beds in a way that 



Trees and Shrubs 26 Months f mm Planting. Dotted Squares Represent ihy i feet. 



Would not suit large trees. But we show some 

 trees of much more rapid growth, in their early 

 years, than the kinds named, and these can be 

 used freely, for quick effects, even though it be 

 calculated to cut them away in time. The three 

 kinds prominent tor rapid growth on the charts 

 are Canadian Poplar, Bird Cherry and Royal 

 Willow, although this number might be greatly 

 increased by other Poplars and Willows, besides 

 the Soft Maples, Ailauthus, Pawlonia, etc., all 

 among very rapid growers. By planting such 

 sorts somewhat close i n good soil, they wiU pro- 

 duce astonishing cU'eets by the second or early 

 in the third year from setting. 



The hardy climbers such as Ampelopsises, 

 Woodbines, Actinidias, etc., must also be includ- 

 ed among growths for securing early affects. 



Treatment. The impulse of many as they 

 study these charts ot remarkable 26 month de- 

 velopments will be to say "Oh yes high manur- 

 ing and free summer watering will do wonders I 

 suppose, but such n forced growth in time can 

 not turn out well." But what will these persons 

 saj' when informed that these results were 

 achieved without cither high manuring or sum- 

 mer watering. 



We state the exact fact when we say, that be- 

 yond the use of tnjm one to three shovelfuls of 

 a compost, made of one part stable manure to 

 two parts rotted turf, applied about the roots at 

 planting, not a particle of manure has been 

 applied to the majority of the stronger growths 

 shown in the charts. And our soil, ordinary 

 farm land three years ago when we bought, had 

 no reputation as being specially rich, although 

 no one called it worn out. Naturally it is fairly 



suited to tree growth but is no better or worse 

 than thousands of acres of farm and orchard 

 lands about us. Before planting the soil was 

 well plowed and subsoiled to a depth of about 

 sixteen inches. 



But it is not alone to the natural character of 

 the soil, or to the shovelfuls of compost used at 

 planting time, or to the subsoiling, that we at- 

 tribute the excellent growth. It isdue cjuite as 

 much to the fact that the soil about the shrubs 

 and trees has been well tilled with fork, hoe and 

 rake continuously since planting. Our Corn 

 patch has not been more scrupulously clean of 

 weeds, than have been our shrub and evergreen, 

 borders. The trees and shrubs, 

 that have stood singls' on the 

 lawn had the same care. Keep. 

 a bed of such growths thu& 

 cultivated, and free from 

 moisture-stealing weeds and 

 the plants will laugh at 

 drouths, and never ask odds 

 of the water barrel. Such 

 clean tillage makes them ap- 

 pear pleasing to the eye also- 

 from the first. 



The Compost. We think it 

 due to lay stress on the im- 

 portant factor of the compost 

 used at planting. It has been 

 stated that this consisted of 

 one part of manure to two 

 parts rotted turf. It was pre- 

 pared in the summer of 1888 

 while the planting, took place 

 the spring following. We 

 wanted it 9 or 10 months old. 

 A heap about eight feet 

 wide and 30 feet long was 

 built up with, first, a layer of 

 sods gathered along the 

 fences, roadside or in the 

 meadow —wherever we could 

 get it— to be about six inches 

 thick; then a layer of half as 

 much rich stable manure. 

 This course of alternate lay- 

 ers was repeated until the 

 pile reached a height of nearly 

 five feet. The top was finished 

 basin like and into this we 

 applied water, drawn by 

 barrels, until the entire mass 

 of earth and manure was 

 soaked. Slight fermentation 

 soon took place in the pile 

 helping decay of the organic 

 matter. After a few weeks 

 the pile was carefully cut 

 down with a sharp spade from 

 one end, and thrown over. 

 Before winter it was again 

 turned over, and by spring- 

 planting time we possessed 

 such a splendid mass of rich 

 dark compost as we knew would be very con- 

 genial to the wants of young shrubs and trees, 

 in giving them a start, when used as stated. 



Conclusion. In thus working and obtaining 

 good results in planting, only a simple, easy and 

 consistent course such as could be carried out on 

 any place,was pursued throughout. Any planter 

 can go and do likewise. Let us recapitu- 

 late: First, there was a judicious selection of 

 hard-wood growths, largely of flowering shrubs; 

 second a fair dose ot a superior stimulating com- 

 post was used for every plant at planting; third, 

 the soil was well plowed and subsoiled, (spading 

 two spades deep would have answered as well); 

 fourth, the growths were in the main set out in 

 masses, enough of a kind to secure a strong 

 touch of the characteristic beauty of each; fifth, 

 the soil has been frequently tilled since planting 

 not allowing a weed to develop. Together the 

 course has produced results in a little over two 

 years, that generally, but erroneously, it is be- 

 lieved would require from three to ten times 

 such a period to produce. 



The same treatment bestowed on Grape vines 

 has lead to a very productive vineyard the cur- 

 rent year. 



Notes on Strawberry Varieties. In a 

 general way the beds came through the winter 

 in first-rate condition. Of course they were in 

 the second, and third years of their fruiting, re- 

 spectively. We are aware of the superiority of 

 a new bed, which gives larger berries and usually 

 more of them. In the latter point no such super- 

 iority seemed to exist this season. We have 

 seldom, or never seen Strawberry plants set so 

 extremely abundant as they did the past season. 



