SHRUBS 199 



therefore we must always look to shrubs as the main attractions, 

 because they are more permanent than other flowers and cheaper 

 than evergreens. 



Therefore, I believe, the instinct of the American people in 

 making shrubbery a national institution is thoroughly sound. 

 The American idea is to have the front yard of every small place 

 composed of an unbroken lawn flanked by irregular borders of shrub- 

 bery. This frank, open treatment, which subordinates the individ- 

 ual's rights to the park-like effect of the whole street, is a fit 

 expression of a democratic people. But such publicity is abhorrent 

 to the English, with whom privacy is the dominant passion. 

 Therefore in England front yards in city or suburbs are surrounded 

 by a hedge or wall, and generally contain straight rows of broad- 

 leaved evergreens, such as holly, box, and aucuba. The almost 

 daily showers in England keep these noble decorative plants free 

 from dust. In all parts of America the summer is too dry for 

 mile after mile of streets lined with broad-leaved evergreens. 



But if we have the right instinct about shrubbery, we are 

 pitifully weak in carrying out the idea. For the ordinary mixed 

 shrubbery is attractive only two months of the year and an eye-sore 

 for five. This is simply because the only shrubs we all know are 

 those with showy flowers. Consequently, when ordering plants 

 for a new shrubbery we merely write down the names of all the 

 glorious old-time favourites such as lilac, azalea, mock orange, 

 spirea, and hydrangea, all of which are totally devoid of interest 

 for at least five eighths of the year, while most of them are also 

 commonplace in foliage. The same is true of the vast majority 

 of shrubs that are famous for their flowers. It is absolutely 

 impossible to get artistic effects by this method. We must get 

 rid of the pestilential old idea that shrubs are only good for flowers. 



