SHRUBS, ARRANGEMENT OF. 469 SHRUBS, ARRANGEMENT OF. 



such as Chinionanthus fragrans and Cor- 

 nus mascula. Mezereon, Ribes sangui- 

 neum, Corchorus japonicus. In conjunc- 

 tion with these, the strongly characterised 

 Cryptomeria japonica, Abies canadensis, 

 and some trees of the Sumach family, 

 deciduous cypresses, purple beech, and 

 weeping laburnums, might be planted with 

 effect. There are so many noble trees 

 which present rich gradations of tint in 

 autumn, that it is almost needless to name 

 them. The old Virginian creeper is more 

 beautiful in its autumn costume than in 

 its vernal hues. The scarlet and other 

 American oaks, the wild cherry, Kblreu- 

 teria paniculata^ and many others, have 

 a splendid effect either by themselves or 

 in the skirts of the shrubbery ; and, 

 judiciously planted, well selected and 

 arranged, possess great interest. It is 

 the tendency of many of the herbaceous 

 plants to become crowded, and to exhaust 

 themselves. Phloxes, asters, monardas, 

 delphiniums, and other free-growing 

 plants, soon choke their delicate com- 

 panions, leaving little room for the more 

 graceful. The plants of coarser habit 

 expel the more delicate flowers, and with 

 it all idea of order and proportion, on 

 which so much of the beauty of the garden 

 depends. 



Supposing this state of things has gone 

 on until entire renovation has become 

 necessary ; that the border is exhausted 

 by continually growing the same things 

 for years, and a radical remedy is required, 

 there is only one which is effectual. Re- 

 move the plants to a place of safety, and 

 after that exchange the soil to the depth of 

 2 feet before planting again. 



Shrubs, &c., Arrangement of. 



The mode of arrangement of shrubs, c., is 

 still more important than the mere opera- 

 tion and distance of planting. Nothing 



can well be more unsatisfactory than the 

 plan of planting at regular intervals on 

 what may be called the dotting system. 

 Perhaps a dozen varieties of shrubs are 

 planted haphazard all over an acre or two 

 of ground. The only principle kept in 

 view is that, strong or weak, they shall be 

 planted at intervals of the same distance. 

 The result is a dreary monotonous maze of 

 tiresome sameness. Whatever the form or 

 extent of shrubbery, the first and leading 

 principle in furnishing it is that it shall be 

 planted in distinct groups, and in masses 

 of shrubs or trees. Single plants, at such 

 distances as to allow them fully to develop 

 their characteristics, are desirable as speci- 

 mens, and as a necessary and pleasing ac- 

 companiment of the gurdenesque style ; 

 but a shrubbery should be a mass of 

 shrubs, not a congeries of single specimens, 

 however perfect : far less must it be a 

 confused patch of imperfect plants. 



Plant everything in groups. In a shrub- 

 bery of serpentine form, let every separate 

 sweep, as far as practicable, have its 

 specific furnishing. Put variegated holly 

 in that prominence, berberries in that 

 recess ; green yew here, golden yew 

 yonder ; Portugal laurel in this ; in the 

 next bend, beyond them, common laurel, 

 rhododendrons, arbutuses, junipers, kal- 

 mias, azaleas, and heaths, all in their 

 turn. Do the same with deciduous shrubs, 

 which might generally be introduced be- 

 hind the evergreens; lilacs here, deutzias 

 there ; philadelphuses, spiraeas, ribes, and 

 laburnums all in groups. In a straight 

 shrubbery plant a ribbon border of shrubs, 

 thus : dwarf laburnums, tall standard 

 lilacs, white syringas or deutzias, yews, 

 variegated hollies, box, dwarf golden yews, 

 rhododendrons ; and, next to the turf, 

 ericas, or dwarf varieties of Juniperu* 

 sabina, the common savin. This and 

 many other arrangements would look well ; 

 only keep the principle of grouping of 



