114 THE WILD TxARDEN. 



allowing abundant space to the shrubs and trees, both in the 

 young and the adult stage, gives us some space to deal with, 

 which may be occupied with weeds if we do not take care of 

 it. The remedy, then, is to replace tlie weed by a beautiful 

 flower, and to let some handsome hardy plant of the northern 

 world occupy each little space ; keeping it clean for us, and, at 

 the same time, repaying us by abundant bloom, or fine foliage 

 or habit. This system in the first place allows the shrubs 

 themselves to cover the ground to a great extent. In the 

 London parks now every shrub is cut under so as to allow 

 the digger to get near it ; and this leads to the most comical 

 and villainous of shapes ever assumed by bushes. Even the 

 lilac bushes, which we see so horril)ly stiff, will cover the 

 ground with tlieir l)ranches if allowed room enough ; there- 

 fore, to a great extent, we should have the branches them- 

 selves covering the ground instead of wdiat we now see. But 

 open spaces, little l)ays and avenues running in among the 

 shrubs, are absolutely essential, if we want to fully enjoy 

 what ousfht to l^e the beautiful inhabitants of our shrul) 

 garden. Such openings offer delightful retreats for hardy 

 flowers, many of which thrive better in semi-shady spots 

 than they do in the open, wliile the effect of the flowers is 

 immeasurably enhanced by the foliage of the shrubs around. 

 To carry out this plan well, one should have, if possible, a 

 good selection of the shrubs to begin witli, although the 

 plainest shrubbery, which is not overgrown or overcrowded, 

 may be embellished with hardy plants on the ground. The 

 plan may be adopted in the case of new shrubberies being 

 formed, or in the case of old ones ; though the old ones are 

 frequently so dried up and overcrowded that great alterations 



