SHRUBBERY 



SHRUBBERY 



1665 



ally has a number of stems springing from the ground 

 and a tree usually has a single trunk, but this is not 

 uniformly true in either case. 



The chief value of shrubbery comes from its use in 

 an artistic way, although some shrubs have edible 

 fruits. Many shrubs, svxch as lilacs, some of the spi- 

 reas, gooseberries and currants, produce leaves very 

 early in the season and some, like Forsythia, Daphne, 

 and the Juneberry are covered with a profusion of blos- 

 soms at this time. Prom eai-ly spring until November 

 in temperate latitudes leaves and flowers are to be found 

 on deciduous shrubs, and from June until the following 

 spring ornamental fruits can be seen on their branches, 

 the red berries of the elder beginning and barberries 

 ending the list. Some of these fruits are so richly 

 colored and so abundant that they can be seen from a 

 long distance. Many shrubs, like some of the vibur- 

 nums and dogwoods, attain a height of 10 or 15 feet, 

 while others, like bunchberry and Daphne Cneorum, 

 grow to a height of only a few inches. The leaves of 

 some, like the chokeberry, Thunberg's barberry, the 

 hazels, viburnums, dogwoods, and sumachs are beauti- 

 fully colored in the fall. The rhododendrons, laurels 

 (Fig. 2326) and mahonias, and the daphne already 

 named, are examples of shrubs having evergreen foli- 

 age. Some leaves, like those of the Salix lucida, are 

 glossy ; others, as those of the common hazel, are 

 hairy; some are thick, and others are thin; some large, 

 some small; some entire, and some lobed, serrated or 

 compound. Throughout the season the foliage of a good' 

 collection of shrubbery will present the greatest variety 

 of color, including all the hundreds of shades of green 

 as well as j'ellow, white, gray and purple. Even in 

 winter shrubbery is wonderfully attractive in appear- 

 ance from the gracefulness of its stems and branches, 

 and from the color of its bark. With the right selec- 

 tions, it will serve 

 V: ^^» almost as well as 



evergreens to shut 

 out from view 

 fences or other 

 low, unsightly ob 

 ■) eel's 



2324. 





The Shrubbery-masses usually should be placed 

 on the boundaries. 



2323. Variety and interest are increased 



This great variety in foliage, flower, fruit and habit 

 of growth makes shrubbery adapted to very extended 

 use in the development of landscapes. It is especially 

 appropriate along the boundaries of ornamental grounds 

 (Fig. 2324), upon steep slopes, and in the immediate 

 vicinity of buildings where foliage and graceful lines 

 are needed to connect the walls of a structure with the 

 ground (Fig. 2325), without making too much shade. 

 It might with advantage replace the grass upon all sur- 

 faces too steep to walk upon with comfort. The foliage 

 of shrubs that are well established remains green when 

 dry weather turns grass brown. The broad mass of 

 shrubbery will take care of itself when the grass needs 

 frequent attention. Even some level surfaces might be 

 improved in places by exchanging a lawn covering for 

 the covering of low woody plants. Often a broad, open 

 space over a lawn is an important feature of a landscape, 

 since it allows extended views. Many times a landscape 

 would be more interesting if the green underneath this 

 open space were produced by a broad mass of shrubbery 

 like a miniature forest instead of grass. 



In planting boiders or groups of shrubs, the ground 

 to be occupied by such a group 

 should be entirely spaded over or 

 plowed. Perhaps no better ad- 

 vice could be given than to pre- 

 pare the soil as it should be pre- 

 pared for a field of corn. The 

 bushes should then be planted so 

 that there is room for about two 

 years' growth before their 

 branches intermingle. If placed 

 closer they would have a crowded 

 appearance from the start and 

 would not join their branches as 

 harmoniously as when the new 

 growth is allowed to choose its 

 own position. If placed farther 

 apart the effect is also bad. Oc- 

 casionally a single shrub at the 

 margin of a belt may stand out 

 almost by itself, but generally 

 the effect of a group should be 

 that of a continuous mass of 

 varying foliage. In arranging 

 different shrubs the taller-grow- 

 ing kinds should generally be 

 placed in the center of the group, 

 and the lower species along the 

 border, the space being graded 

 from the highest to the lowest. 

 The reason for this arrangement 

 is that the lower plants would 

 be killed by the shade of the 

 larger ones if placed back of 

 them, and moreover would not 

 be seen; but one should avoid too 

 uniform a slope. For instance, 



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