SECT. ix. OF SHRUBS, SHRUBBERIES, kc. 



and they justly merit every care, though they pro- 

 duce us no (or few) edible fruits. They assist in- 

 forming- an agreeable shade, they afford a great va- 

 riety of flowers with leaves differently 'tinged, and 

 are standing ornaments that give us no great trouble. 



Of shrubs too little care (however) in general is 

 taken to plant them properly, or even to choose good 

 plants for the purpose; and hence they often fail to 

 flourish, and are mortifying us with a dwindling 

 growth, and unhealthy appearance, when they should 

 have become objects of admiration. 



Many shrubs are raised from suckers, others from 

 layers, some from cuttings, and most may be propa- 

 gated from seeds, which, though the slowest method, 

 generally produces the finest plants. Before they 

 are planted out for ornaments, they should be trained 

 two or three years in a nursery, to be formed into a 

 full and regular shaped head. 



Though deciduous shrubs may be planted almost 

 at any time, yet October is much the best month, 

 especially if a moist season; the exception being 

 made as to a cold wet soil, in which all sorts of 

 planting (as observed before) is best done in spring. 



Evergreen shrubs must be cautiously planted 

 and should not be ventured upon in winter, and 

 even in autumn and spring ought not to be meddled 

 with in harsh weather : drying winds are apt pre- 

 sently to injure their roots. It is a good rule, let 

 the weather be what it will, and the sorts what they 

 may, to expose the roots to the air no longer than 

 can be helped ; evergreens should therefore be im- 

 mediately planted after they are taken up, and their 

 roots also very carefully preserved whole. And if 

 the shrubs are small, and it can be, let them be re- 

 moved with balls of earth to them, trimming oft* 

 projecting ends. 



As shrubberies, clumps, &c. are often made on 



I 



