FIVE] LAWNS AND SHRUBBERIES 



perfect form and its acuminate leaves. The fern- 

 leaved linden is also an elegant tree. The common 

 European linden grows to a large size, with large 

 leaves and fragrant flowers. The list of choice 

 elms is also very long, and full of attractive trees. 

 The English elm is very spreading, and with smaller 

 leaves than our American. The nettle-leaved elm 

 is a very curious tree, with some claims to general 

 planting. 



We now turn to the shrubbery. I know that at 

 the outset most of my readers will be unprepared 

 to follow me when I recommend giving to shrubs 

 a large space. They will yield about a flower gar- 

 den, but that there should be a half acre or more 

 of blossoming shrubs they cannot believe essential. 

 But watch nature, and observe that she plants her 

 hillsides not only with groups of trees, but with 

 great patches of bushes; and these are really the 

 glory of the successive seasons. While I write I 

 look over the valley, and see plains of sumac — 

 slopes of half an acre each that blaze with it. Then 

 all up and down the sides of the creek run a shrub- 

 bery of elder bushes, twisted and twined with bit- 

 tersweet, and grape vines full of huge clusters 

 of purple berries. All above these hang willow 



[95] 



