Shrubs and Shrubbery 



57 



tion for the home area has given place to the idea of a picture; and, in a 

 landscape picture, trees are not the only elements of interest, any more 

 than they are in a picture on canvas. The shrubs are needed for the 

 intermediate tones. 



Before discussing the kinds of shrubs, it is important that we understand 

 why we use shrubs. The largest use of shrubs is as a part of the general 



A good treatment of sumac, planted against a background, and cut to the ground now and then in order to 

 force a vigorous new growth 



composition. The old books said much about the sky-line made by the tops 

 of trees. In places of ordinary dimensions, however, it is more important 

 to consider the ground-Hne. The ordinary line of vision should often be 

 arrested at the boundaries of the place, else the place looks bare, indefinite 

 and unfurnished. 



The proper disposition of shrubs breaks the monotonous ground-line 

 and sets limits to the place. Shrubbery also introduces great variety of 

 form and colour and texture, and it reHeves the tameness and openness 

 of mere tree-planted areas. It enhances the intimacy of our relations 



