Introduction 



one would have done much to add colour to our 

 land. 



The age to which a shrub may attain is an 

 interesting question. Some, like Laurels, Aucubas and 

 Rhododendrons may live a hundred years or more, 

 and instances are known of these shrubs at least eighty 

 years old which are still apparently in the prime of life. 

 Other shrubs, like Broom, Ceanothus and Daphne, are 

 old at twenty ; while others, such as certain Roses, have 

 run their career in half that time. Unlike the case 

 with trees, few records have been kept of the actual 

 planting of shrubs ; it is desirable that more definite 

 information should be acquired on this point. 



Lastly, what precisely is a shrub how limited, 

 how defined? Here is the standard definition: "A 

 shrub is a woody stemmed perennial plant distinguished 

 from a tree chiefly by its low stature, and by having 

 several or many primary stems arising from a point at 

 or near the ground." 



Xll 



