02 THE FLOWER GARDEN COMPANION. 



larger kinds of trees that are planted as belts on the margin 

 of flower gardens and ornamental grounds. 



There are few countries that possess a better collection of 

 native shrubs than the United States ; and, indeed, in Europe 

 the first consideration, on laying out flower gardens and ex- 

 tensive grounds, is to prepare a piece of ground purposely for 

 the American flower garden. However, the native shrubs 

 and plants are much neglected in culture here, which, I 

 imagine, is chiefly owing to their being considered too com- 

 mon, while those plants which are brought from foreign 

 countries are highly prized. Whatever may be the opinion 

 of others, I cannot conceive that their being natives of this or 

 that country can in any wise affect the real worth of flowers 

 and plants, which in themselves are beautiful to every be- 

 holder, and are intended by Providence as natural embellish- 

 ments. It is their finely woven texture and rich coloring, 

 that should engage our admiration, and not the country which 

 has given birth to any particular variety. I hope, therefore, 

 that in future the many pretty varieties of native shrubs and 

 plants will find a place, and be cultivated, in the shrubbery 

 and flower garden, where they can with every propriety be 

 introduced to a good purpose. Indigenous, or native plants, 

 having qualities adapted to the country, will assume a most 

 pleasing character, and be much improved by culture. 



In planting shrubs, like herbaceous and all other kinds of 

 plants, the general rule must be, to place them as much as 

 possible in their most appropriate situation. For instance, 

 the pretty dwarf varieties, as the Mezeron, and Double- 

 flowering Almond, are the most appropriate for small flower 

 beds, and the facing of the shrubbery; the taller kinds, as the 

 Lilac, are generally planted to cover unsightly objects, old 

 boarded fences, and the like. 



Propagation. Most kinds of shrubs are easily increased, 

 by taking th suckers from the parent plants, as they are 

 generally prone to give out suckers from their roots ; all the 

 free growing, soft wooded kinds, may be propagated by 



