CHAPTER XX 

 SHRUBS FOR SHADY SITUATIONS 



THE list of procumbent or carpeting shrubs that have been 

 found to succeed when planted beneath the shade and drip 

 of forest trees is by no means a long one, and as the clothing 

 of such bare places is often a point of the greatest importance, 

 particularly in park or ornamental grounds, the following 

 notes may prove useful. By careful manipulation much 

 may be done to carpet such places with suitable shrubs, 

 but the task in some instances is by no means an easy 

 one, and must be set about in a common-sense and practical 

 way. Evidently deciduous trees have an advantage over 

 evergreen kinds in that with the extra light and greater 

 amount of surface dampness undergrowth succeeds better 

 beneath their shade. 



The common Ivy is probably the best evergreen carpet 

 for shade planting with which we are acquainted. It runs 

 about and roots freely, soon covering a large space of ground 

 with its neat, deep-green foliage. Propagation is brought 

 about either by means of cuttings or suckers, and is simple 

 and inexpensive. 



The Periwinkles (Vinca major and V. minor) are well 

 adapted for planting beneath our larger trees, where, unless 

 the shade is very dense, they succeed admirably, soon form- 

 ing large breadths of evergreen carpet and producing their 

 deep blue flowers in abundance. They are readily increased 

 by layering or subdivision, and when once established soon 

 spread about unheeded. 



The St. John's Wort (Hypericum calycinum) can con- 

 fidently be recommended for planting as a ground covering 

 beneath our larger trees. It increases readily, and if occa- 

 sionally cut over, shoots out all the more freely and thickly. 



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