INTRODUCTION 



THE SHRUB 



THE dividing line between tree and shrub is of little 

 importance botanically ; it is simply a matter of one 

 stem or many stems. Rising from the ground, the 

 tree uplifts its branches, leaves, flowers and fruit upon 

 its trunk, a massive, single shaft. A shrub rises from 

 its roots with a group of stems whose number forbids 

 to any one of them the attainment of great size. Be- 

 cause of this unity of central structure a tree has an 

 individuality which is denied to a plant that may have 

 five stems one year and ten the next. 



The position of the shrub is distinctly secondary ; 

 and the burden of the inferior race is upon it. A tree 

 may be valued for what it is, but a shrub is rated for 

 just what it can do. It must render a service to com- 

 pensate for its cultivation. This service may be one 

 of beauty, through its flowers ; or of use, by its fruit ; 

 or its foliage or habit of growth may be especially 

 attractive, or of such a nature as will give it value as 

 a shield or a cover for waste and barren places. A 

 shrub which cannot render some such service is held 

 to be a cumberer of the ground. 



The economic value of the shrub upon the forest- 

 floor is very great. It holds the fallen leaves in place 



XXVll 



