SHRUBS. 243 



variety occasionally employed for this purpose may bo 

 mentioned the Pansy (Viola tricolor), the Dwarf Bell- 

 flower (Campanula pumila), the Cowslip, Polyanthus, 

 Auricula, Hepatica, Veronica fruticulosa, Calluna vulgaris 

 fl. pleno, Erica carnea, and Strawberry plants, particularly 

 the Bush Alpines. Edgings may also be formed of spars 

 of wood, narrow pieces of sandstone flag, or even of slight 

 bars of cast-iron. In shrubberies and large flower-plots, 

 verges of grass-turf, about a foot in breadth, make a very 

 handsome border to walks. These should not be allowed 

 to rise high above the gravel : an inch and a half may be 

 assigned as the limit they should not exceed. The grass 

 is kept short by repeated mowings, and the edges are de- 

 fined by clipping with shears, or cutting with a paring-iron. 

 Shrubs. — Much of the beauty of the pleasure garden 

 depends upon the proper selection and disposition of orna- 

 mental trees and shrubs; and it is to be regretted that this 

 department of the art has often been greatly neglected. 

 In many English gardens we still find only a few ever- 

 greens, and a parcel of rugged deciduous species, intro- 

 duced probably before the age of Miller. No wonder, 

 therefore, that we sometimes hear complaints of the in- 

 sipid appearance of the shrubbery. Nevertheless, shrubs 

 are highly elegant in themselves, and they afford a most 

 efficient means of diversifying garden scenery, Of the 

 many beautiful species now to be had in Britain, and 

 affording the materials of exquisite decoration, we can 

 mention only a few. For extensive lists and for much 

 general information, we may once more refer to the work of 

 the late Mr. Loudon, a new and improved edition of which 

 has been published by his talented widow, well known in 

 the literary world for her varied writings, and especially 

 for her popular treatises on Botany and Floriculture. 



