200 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



Shelter-belts. See Windbreak. 



Shrubbery. Shrubs have two kinds of values 

 or uses: first, they are useful for their own sakes or as 

 individual specimens ; and second, for use in the making of 

 foliage masses or groups. Ordinarily they are used only for 

 the former purpose in home grounds ; but their greatest use 

 is, nevertheless, in heavy masses about the borders of the 

 place or in the angles of the building. That is to say, 

 they should contribute to the general design of the place 

 or to its pictorial effect. If they are planted in Shrub- 

 beries or masses, the flowers are still as interesting and 

 as showy as they are when the bushes are planted alone. 

 In fact, the flowers usually show to better advantage, 

 since they have a heavy background of foliage. In the 

 Shrubbery mass the bushes are more easily cared for than 

 when they are scattered as single specimens over the lawn. 

 The single specimen which is irregular, or ragged, or un- 

 tidy, is an undesirable object; but such a specimen may 

 contribute an indispensable part to the border mass. In the 

 border they do not need the attention to pruning that they 

 do in the lawn. The main part of the Shrubbery mass 

 should be made of the stronger, larger growing and coarser 

 Shrubs; and the more delicate ones, or those with highly 

 colored leaves or showy flowers, may be placed near the 

 inner edge of the plantation. Shrubs which are valued 

 chiefly for their flowers or showy foliage, as, for example, 

 the Hydrangea paniculata, may be planted just in front of a 

 bold Shrubbery mass, so that they will have a background 

 to show off their beauties. Further directions for the lay- 

 out of the grounds will be found under the articles Lawns 

 and Borders. 



It is ordinarily best to plow or spade the entire area in 

 which the Shrubs are to be set. For a year or two the 

 ground should be tilled between the Shrubs,, either by horse 

 tools or by hoes and rakes. If the place looks bare, seeds of 



