806 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



PART III. 



6140. Tlie distance between the rows of trees (ten feet) may in some cases be an objection, for a year or 

 two at first ; but this, we consider, will be more than counterbalanced by the opportunity afforded of cul- 

 tivating the ground between them, and by the air and light admitted to their side shoots, which will the 

 sooner fit them for producing blossoms. All formality of appearance will soon be done away by the irre- 

 gular growth of the plants, and by the thinnings which must take place in, at the latest, three years after 

 planting. If any, however, object to the appearance of rows, they may be obliterated, by introducing 

 some plants in the intervals of the same sort as those in the lines adjoining ; but in doing this, care must 

 be taken never to lose sight of the shrub or tree which is finally to remain, as it is of importance to this 

 plan, (which is not natural or picturesque planting), that the regular disposition of the whole be preserved, 

 as well with a view to the gradation of height as to the mixture of color in the fiower, and of permanent 

 and deciduous foliage. The herbaceous plants only remain to be added. These are to be inserted one 

 row in front of the first row of shrubs (o), and three or more rows (p, q, r, s) in the intervening spaces 

 between the next rows. The plants are to form a quincunx with the shrubs ; and the same arrangement 

 as to height, color, and time of flowering, adopted as in the mingled border. Such a shrubbery may be 

 commenced with (2 X 6) twelve sorts of evergreen, and the same number of deciduous trees ; with (6 x 6) 

 thirty-six sorts of shrubs, half the number deciduous, and half evergreen ; and with (5 x 6) thirty sorts of 

 herbaceous plants. It may then be continued either by repeating the pattern with the same sorts, or by 

 other sorts ; or principally by the same sorts, with some others occasionally. If a show of flowers is 

 valued, the sorts employed must be comparatively few, as the flowers of the greater number of trees and 

 shrubs are of dull colors, or little conspicuous. The evergreen trees, in a popular sense, can hardly be said 

 to have any flower ; but still a number of them must be introduced in the back rows, to blend with horse- 

 chestnuts, limes, acacias, wild cherries, wild pears, &c. &c. 



6141. The select or grouped manner of planting a shrubbery (Jig. 559.) is analogous to 

 the select manner of planting a flower-garden. Here one genus, species, or even variety, 

 is planted by itself in considerable numbers, so as to produce a powerful effect. Thus 

 the pine tribe, as trees, may be alone planted in one part of the shrubbery, and the holly, 

 in its numerous varieties, as shrubs. After an extent of several yards, or hundreds of 

 yards, have been occupied with these two genera, a third and fourth, say the evergreen 

 fir tribe and the yew, may succeed, being gradually blended with them, and so on. A 

 similar grouping is observed in the herbaceous plants inserted in the front of the plant- 

 ation ; and the arrangement of the whole as to height, is the same as in the mingled 

 shrubbery. 



6142. The chief difficulty in this manner of planting is so to select the sorts that are 

 to succeed each other, so to blend one group or kind with those adjoining, and at the 

 same time maintaining the requisite gradation from the front to the back of the plant- 

 ation, as to preserve to the spectator in walking along, the appearance of a whole. When 

 this is successfully accomplished, and on a large scale, no kind of shrubbery can be more 

 beautiful in summer ; but in winter it will present parts wholly without evergreens, and 

 it will only be rich in flowers in some parts ; as for example, where the roses, spireae, 

 mespileee, &c. are introduced. By proper contrivance, however, the evergreens, the 

 showy flowering deciduous kinds, and the less showy deciduous sorts may form three 

 divisions, and the two former can be kept nearest the mansion. The best guides as to 

 the sorts proper to adjoin each other, are the general form and mode of growth ; and 

 next, the color and foliation. In these particulars the transition should always be gra- 

 dual. Thus, among the trees, the pines, cedars, firs, and yew, form a regular gradation, 

 and the shrubs which may be placed near them are the arbor vitae, juniper, whin, &c. 

 To place groups of weeping-willow or elm adjoining the pines, and to select roses and 

 lilacs as shrubs, would produce a harsh and incongruous effect. There is obviously 

 much less natural affinity between herbaceous plants and shrubs than between shrubs 

 and trees ; but the groups of the herbaceous plants must harmonise among themselves on 

 the same general principles as the trees ; thus pink-looking plants (caryophyttece), should 

 not be succeeded by coarse broad-leaved sorts (boraginete), but rather by more delicate 

 kinds, as grasses or primula?, &c. There may sometimes also be a certain species of 

 relation between the herbaceous plants and shrubs ; thus the bulbous-rooted kinds, and 

 small early flowers, as violets, primulae, will be more fitly planted among evergreens and 

 early-flowering deciduous shrubs than among late deciduous kinds. 



