THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. 



53 



AVhilu sucli is the case, it will he impossible to have an 

 agreeable or interesting margin to a shrubbery or plantation. 

 What secrets one might have in the central hidden portions of 

 these now dug and l)are shrubberies — in the half-shady sj)ots 

 where little colonies of rare exotic wildlings might have their 

 first introduction to our ^^"ild garden 1 Of course all the labour 

 required to produce this miserable result of dug borders is 

 worse tlian tlirown awav, as the shrubberies woidd do better 



Large White Achilleas spread into wide masses under shade of trees in shrubbery. 



if let alone, and by utilising the power thus wasted, we might 

 liighly beautify the positions that are now so ugly. 



If we resolve that no annual manuring or digging is to be 

 permitted, nobody will grudge a thorough preparation at first. 

 When a plantation of shrubs is quite young it is well to 

 keep the ground open by lightly stirring it for a year or two. 

 Then the planting should be so arranged as to defeat the 

 digger. To graduate the vegetation from the taller subjects 

 behind to the very margin of the grass is of much importance, 



