102 THE VILLA GARDENER. 



not covered with tlie branches of the shrubs with grass. This would look 

 remarkably Avell, both in a picturesque and in a botanical point of view, for 

 another five or six years, Avhen it wonld become absolutely necessary to root 

 up some of the larger trees, and to prune in, or cut over near the ground, 

 some of the larger shrubs. This process of keeping the beds and groups in 

 shape, by pruning and cutting down, might be carried on for an indefinite 

 period, as may easily be believed by observing the great duration of hedges 

 which are continually cut, and of coppice-wood. In order that the garden 

 may always look well, an equal amount of pruning, thinning, and cvitting 

 over, should, as nearly as possible, be performed every year; and regard 

 should be had, in doing this, always to preserve the same proportion between 

 trees and shrubs, and between plants both of kinds which are evergreens and 

 those which are deciduous ; unless, indeed, it is thought that an improve- 

 ment might be made by altering these proportions, 



153, Bulbs. — Hitherto, we have supposed only fibrous-rooted herbaceous 

 plants to be planted in the beds ; but, if bulbs are mixed with these, the bulbs 

 may be allowed to remain after the fibrous-rooted flowers have been removed : 

 because they will thrive with much less light and air than the fibrous-rooted 

 plants ; and because they spring up and grow with great rapidity ; flower 

 early in the season, before the leaves of the deciduous trees have expanded 

 so as to shade them ; and, when they have done flowering, they fade speedily, 

 and their foliage, when removed, leaves no trace of the plants behind, and, 

 consequently, causes no unsightliness on the surface of the ground through- 

 out the summer. Besides, there are certain kinds of bulbs, such as the 

 scillas, some kinds of hyacinths, the snowdrop, and the narcissuses, which 

 thrive better under a slight degree of shade than when fully exposed to the 

 atmosphere. Bulbs, therefore, may be planted among groups of trees and 

 shrubs, and in close shady places in suburban gardens, where fibrous-rooted 

 flowering plants are inadmissible, 



151. I?i the borders tinder the side fences, in this design, flowers of all kinds 

 may be cultivated, during the entire existence of the garden ; because, being 

 unmixed with shrubs, except those which are trained against the fences, they 

 would be freely exposed to the light and air, and might be taken up and 

 replanted, and the soil renewed at pleasure, 



155, Culinary crops. — With respect to that part of the garden which is 

 cropped with asparagus, sea-kale, strawberries, gooseberries, and other fruit 

 shrubs, very little need be said. The asparagus and sea-kale will require to 

 he liberally supplied with manure; the strawberries taken up and replanted 

 euery two or three years ; and the gooseberries carefully pruned annually, so 

 as to keep the bushes open for the admission of light and air ; and when they 

 cease to bear abundantly, they should be taken up, the soil renewed, or refreshed 

 with new soil, and young plants planted. The renewal should take place by 

 degrees, say one row at a time ; «o that the garden may never be without 

 full-grown bushes, and, consequently, every year have its crop of fruit. The 

 herbs should be taken up and replanted every second or third year. The roses 

 and other plants trained against the fences and the house, will require to be 

 regularly pruned, trained, and kept clear of insects, and, as they become 

 imsightly, renewed. The box edgings, also, will require to be annually cut 

 In June, and renevyed every seven or ten years. 



