Flow^cring Shrubs and Their Care 



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FLOWERING shrubs are a class of 

 plants that give permanent and 

 satisfying results to the grower 

 after once being planted. There are so 

 many varieties that it would be impos- 

 sible to describe them all in a single 

 paper as they would fill a catalogue be- 

 sides the list already known, many new 

 species and many varieties of old species 

 ,ire being continually introduced by nur- 

 serymen. As a rule the majority of 

 I hem are of the hardiest nature. The 

 iltivator need not be afraid of any which 

 I shall mention being killed by the se- 

 verest winter weather, a fact that we 

 ran appreciate here in Canada, also that 

 ihey thrive equally well in the' same situ- 

 ations and in the same soil. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL 



Like everything else that we grow, we 

 must go to some trouble in preparing 

 the soil thoroughly where shrubs are to 

 grow, in order to have the best results 

 as usually after once being planted they 



ire not disturbed for many years and 

 then only perhaps to thin them out or to 

 move one not planted in the position 

 best suited. .So much is continually 

 dinned into our ears about preparing the 



oil well for planting anything, that it 

 seems unnecessary now to repeat it ; but 

 to have good healthy shrubs with plen- 

 ty of fine flowers, it pays to drain it and 

 to apply plenty of good strong manure 



R[>roughly and deeply dug in. 

 SHRUB PLANTING AND COMBI.VATIONS 

 As a general rule shrubs are usually 

 jjianted too thickly and afterwards be- 

 come an indefinite hedge when the individ- 

 uality of each shrub is lost in the mass. 

 Unless, intended to make a hedge or 

 clo.se border of one variety, a mixed col- 

 lection should not be planted closer than 

 six feet. This may seem a great dis- 

 nce when planting the small shrubs but 

 -i few years growth will show the neces- 

 sity, besides allowing the plant to de- 

 iop its characteristics evenly all around, 

 e proper rule is to avoid violent con- 

 sts and to place each where the color 

 the flowers and foliage will be most 

 SCtive and the height of the shrub 

 maturity can be seen to the best ad- 

 intage. 



In a mixed border the planter is ad- 

 vised to place the tall growing kinds, 

 such as the large-flowered syringa and 

 lilacs at the back, wiegelias, hydrangeas, 

 and so forth, in the middle and the dwarf 

 sorts, such as Deutzia gracilis and 

 Spiraea Fortunei in the front. In a bor- 

 der of this character, it is a good plan to 

 mix in herbaceous plants, bulbs, and so 



lOstrants from an address delivered at a recent 

 ■tin.-; or t lir Toronto Horticultural Society. 



J. McPherson Ross, Toronto 



forth, which if properly assorted as to 

 flowering period, will give, an endless 

 show from early spring till late fall. 



Where there is plenty of garden room 

 a fine effect is produced by massing three 

 or more of one kind together, thus pre- 

 senting a show of bloom that is satisfy- 

 ing, to say the least of it. For example, 

 imagine a half dozen Spiraa Reevesiana 

 or Spir(B(i ]'an Houttei alongside a clump 

 of the diameter of the scarlet quince, 

 Pyrus Japonica, both in flower together, 

 or a group of white lilacs, five to eight 

 feet high, in full' flower in the back 

 ground with a clum of scarlet quince in 

 bloom in front ; the effect is magnificent. 



In this way, a group of Prunns cera- 

 sifera, var., Pissardi or Berberis vul- 

 garis, var., atropurpurea against a mass 



ly necessary to restrain some growth, 

 never do it till after the flowering season 

 is over. Above all never indulge in this 

 senseless shearing in round forms, as 

 we see too often practised in \ many 

 places ; the custom is positively hideous 

 and destroys all the grace. The hydran- 

 gea is the only shrub that is benefitted 

 by cutting well back and this should be 

 done in" early spring. 



Care of Azaleas 



Last fall the Lindsay Horticultural So- 

 ciety distributed to its members a number 

 of nzaleas, imported from Germany. Many 

 ■■^f these, plants flowered very well during 

 the winter. The owners are now wondering 

 how best to preserve their plants to again 

 secure a good bloom. An answer will be 

 appreciated. — F. R., Victoria Co., Ont. 



Corner of Forest and Ornamental Tree Plantation at Quebec Experiment Station 



of golden elder, is quite striking in color 

 effect and makes a picture not easily for- 

 gotten and in the fall of the year, a 

 hedge of Hydrangea pariiculata, in plum- 

 ed masses of creamy white, flanked in 

 front by a bed of scarlet gladiolus, makes 

 a lasting show of color that is worth all 

 the trouble to produce. 



WHEN AND HOW TO PRUNE 



Flowering shrubs require little if any- 

 of what may be termed "pruning." The 

 plants naturally grow in such graceful 

 forms that much pruning is not neces* 

 sary. Besides topping back an occasion- 

 al extraordinary shoot or cutting out 

 some dead branch or superflous suckers, 

 nothing much else is needed. If act'ual- 



Azalea plants should be stood out-of- 

 doors in the pots about the middle of 

 June in a partially shaded position, north 

 side of a hou.se or fence preferred. Stand 

 pots on coal ashes to keep out earth 

 worms. Spray the foliage, especially on 

 the under side of the leaves, every, day 

 with clear water or soapy water to keep 

 down red spider. The red spider is a 

 small insect mite that attacks the under 

 side of the leaves causing them to drop. 

 A dusting with powdered sulphur when 

 foliage is damp al.so helps to keep down 

 this pest. Take plants indoors early in 

 September. Syringe frc(|uently as before 

 mentioned. Azaleas like a peaty soil 

 free from lime. 



