12 Making a Garden of Perennials 



tree. For any bed much nearer, the cut- 

 ting would be apt to injure the tree, and 

 the growth in the bed would be a poor one. 



Where the grounds are large and there 

 is ample room for large beds at the bor- 

 ders, with an open lawn in front, flowering 

 shrubs may be used as a background for 

 perennials, but the growth of the shrubs 

 requires frequent removals of the peren- 

 nials further forward, and a frequent re- 

 newal of the plant food which the shrub 

 is sharing. This method requires more 

 watering on account of the double duty 

 required of the soil. 



Avoid fancy or geometrical shapes. 

 They belong, when allowable, to formal 

 gardens where tender bedding plants are 

 used. Along walks, rectangular beds may 

 be made, but against buildings or bound- 

 ary lines, while the rear line may be com- 

 paratively straight, the front should be 

 undulating, having long sweeping bays 

 and promontories. No short curves should 

 exist. They interfere with the lawn- 



