Practical Considerations 157 



became fit to be surrounded wholly with turf, when the lower 

 tribes might be consigned altogether to those back borders, 

 which faced the side walks and were not seen from the lawn, 

 or to such other parts of the pleasure grounds as did not come 

 into view from the house, and of which the shrubbery walk 

 will be an illustration. 



It must be remembered, then, that shrubs which are but 

 just planted and insufficiently established, will not bear turf- 

 ing around for several years without injury. They require 

 air to their roots to start them freely. And any neglect of 

 this treatment, by turfing around them prematurely, will 

 be productive of the very worst consequences. It has been 

 known to retard their growth for many years, or even to go 

 very far towards destroying them altogether. But they need 

 not have a broad border for this purpose, and anything 

 beyond four or five feet will be both superfluous and ugly. 



By keeping the commoner herbaceous plants in such private 

 parts as have been named, they may be cultivated just as 

 fitly as if they were in the more exposed places where they 

 are now usually grown. And they can thus be allowed a 

 breadth of border which will give them a m^uch finer oppor- 

 tunity of developing themselves, only taking care that speci- 

 men shrubs are brought forward singly or in groups here and 

 there, along the border, to do away with all monotony and 

 produce a Uttle more freshness and life. 



9. Flowers in Grass.' — Certain kinds of flowers, especially 

 spring bulbs, succeed admirably if planted freely in the lawn. 

 Crocuses and daffodils are especially well adapted to this 

 treatment, and give most excellent results. The poet's nar- 

 cissus is a favorite for planting in the grass, but the trumpet 

 varieties of narcissus are equally good, while even tulips and 

 hyacinths may be naturalized in this manner with reasonably 

 good results. In attempting anything of this sort the biilbs 



