FEW WORDS ABOUT STANDARDS 



proved extremely hardy, never disappointing in their 

 bloom. The flowers open, however, about ten days 

 later in the year than those of their relatives growing 

 in the regular way. This is no disadvantage, but, 

 on the contrary, lengthens the snowball season. 



Last year a neighbor's boy so keenly appreciated 

 the beauty of these snowballs that, in the pink of 

 dawn when the robins first chirruped, he crept from 

 his bed, stole out of the house, across the lawn, and 

 plucked them one by one. He did it hastily and with 

 great damage to the symmetrical form of the tree. 

 It was a melancholy day for the owner of the standard 

 who had tended it well, and I have even heard that it 

 ended sadly for the boy, although I did not penetrate 

 into the details of his grief. 



Hydrangea paniculata takes the tree form well 

 and appears very striking and massive. It is the 

 most worthy of all standards for autumn effects. 

 Through its extreme hardiness, it can be planted with 

 almost the surety of steady growth and long life. It 

 faces the sea dauntlessly. In the formal and also in 

 the wild garden, it is an attractive member, in the 

 latter case defining outlines that might otherwise 

 appear too vague. 



One of the most charming standards to plant near 

 the sea is the tamarix. Its pastel pink flowers identify 

 themselves with the early season, while long after they 

 have passed, the asparagus-like foliage gives lightness 

 and beauty to the scene. 



Standards have a place not only in the garden, 

 but on the lawn, where almost invariably they give 



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