go THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



Grouping of Shrubs. 



On places of larger area shrubs may be arranged in 

 masses or groups, by the sides of walks and drives, as a 

 setting in front of the foundation of the house, and in 

 the angles, in front of outbuildings, and bank walls, 

 etc. They are useful in carrying the mass of tree foliage 

 down to the lawn, and make beautiful low screens, for 

 hiding seats, terraces, the vegetable garden, or other 

 low objects. Where the extent of the grounds will allow, 

 groups of shrubs of one kind will produce more striking 

 effects than if many varieties are mingled together. Thus 

 a group or mass of roses, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, 

 spiraeas, etc., may be placed, one in one corner of the 

 grounds, another in front of the poultry house, another 

 in front of the steps leading up to the side door, and 

 another in front of a terrace. Then with a well-kept 

 lawn with a glimpse of the drive or walk here and there 

 in view, we have a more attractive picture than if in the 

 groups of shrubbery we could see but one or two in 

 bloom. Mixed groups are often desirable when close up 

 to a much frequented veranda, so that something may 

 be seen in bloom at all times during the summer. Along 

 the roadways or on boundary lines between estates a 

 row or border of shrubs marks the line very prettily. 

 These may be set in a straight line or hedge or in an 

 irregular border, wider in some places than in others. 

 If the groups are large and of many kinds those 

 growing the largest should be set in the middle or 

 if the border is against the boundary line, a building, 

 wall or terrace, the largest should be set next the line 

 or the object covered, the smaller ones grading down 

 to the lawn in front (Fig. 28). 



