104 breck's new book of flowers. 



gled, with the taller species in the background, they 

 present, at all seasons of the year, an interesting sight. 



Shrubs are divided into two classes — Deciduous and 

 Evergreen. Deciduous shrubs are those which lose their 

 leaves in autumn. However uninteresting the naked 

 brandies of this class of slirubs may appeal-, to the care- 

 less observer, when denuded of their foliage, they are not 

 devoid of beauty to the lover of nature ; and, when min- 

 gled with evergreens, are pleasing even in winter. The 

 twigs of some species are red; others yellow, or various 

 shades of brown ; and then many are covered with a pro- 

 fusion of berries, of different colors, which, contrasting 

 with the evergreens, give a lively look to the shrubbery, 

 even in the most dreary months. 



The culture of hardy shrubs is, in general, simple and 

 easy. The chief things to be noticed are, — the proper 

 season for planting, the situation in which the plants will 

 thrive, the kind of soil best suited to their growth, and 

 the encouragement to be given to enable them to thrive 

 afterwards. 



The proper season for Planting, — As soon as the leaves 

 begin to fall, in October, deciduous trees may be planted 

 with safety, with few exceptions. Althaeas, and some 

 other sorts liable to be winter-killed, had better not be re- 

 moved until spring. The spring planting, of all decidu- 

 ous trees and shrubs, should be done as early as possible, 

 — as soon as the ground can be worked to advantage, and 

 before the buds begin to expand. 



Evergreens, in general, if carefully taken up, may be 

 planted with success during most of the spring and sum- 

 mer, provided dull and dripping weather be taken advan- 

 tage of for that purpose. There are particular seasons, 

 however, when they will thrive much more readily 

 than at others. I have been as successful about the first 

 of June as at any other time, and have also succeeded in 



