Book II. 



PLANTING THE SHRUBBERY. 



809 



6154. Fruit-trees in shrubberies. '* In shrubberies of considerable extent, fruit-trees 

 may be interspersed at fifteen or twenty yards' distance, by which means a good deal of 

 fruit may be obtained, and very much beauty added to the shrubbery. In spring the 

 blossoms of apples, cherries, and pears are beautiful ; in autumn their fruits and the 

 foliage of cherries in particular, give a lustre and variety that highly brightens the ap- 

 pearance of other plants, especially of evergreens." {Villa Gard. Direct. 16.) This 

 mode, Sir W. Chambers tells us, is practised, by the Chinese when the patron is poor ; 

 that is, their shrubbery is composed of fruit-trees, and shrubs, and forms a sort 

 of ornamental orchard. This we consider an advisable mode for an economical farm- 

 residence ; but the general introduction of fruit-trees, in even mingled shrubberies, un- 

 less of the species in their wild state, as crabs, wildings of pears, cherries, quinces, rasp- 

 berries, &c. we consider as likely to destroy the character of the scene. It must be 

 recollected too, that grafted trees, especially the apple and cherry, seldom grow so freely 

 and produce such vigorous and natural-like heads as plants raised from seed ; they are, 

 therefore, soon overtopped by the others, or where they are placed among trees tliat do 

 not grow higher than themselves, they seldom fail of producing deformed stunted heads. 



6155. Forsr/th, Abercrombie, and others, 

 recommend their introduction, as it ap- 

 pears to us, without due regard to any 

 other object than the fruit they will pro- 

 duce, and the fugacious beauty of their 

 blossoms*; but their unaccommodating 

 form, and their influence as to character 

 in ornamental plantations, we consider 



as sufficient arguments against the prac- /|*| 0t^~^^-=^ "^s 



tice in general cases. ^Isaad 



6156. Decoratiojis in shrubberies. Those 

 of the shrubbery should in general be of 

 a more useful and imposing character 

 than such as are adopted in the flower-garden. The green-house and aviary are 

 sometimes introduced, but not, as we think, with propriety, owing to the unsuit- 



* ableness of the scene for 



the requisite culture and 

 attention. Open and co- 

 vered seats are necessary, 

 or, at least, useful decor- 

 ations, and may occur here 

 and there in the course of 

 the walk, in various styles 

 of decoration, from the 

 rough bench to the rustic 

 hut (Jig. 561.) and Gre- 

 cian temple. (Jig. 562.) 

 Great care, Tiowever, must 

 be taken not to crowd these 

 nor any other species of 

 decorations. Buildings be- 

 ing more conspicuous than 

 either statues, urns, or in- 

 scriptions, require to be introduced more sparingly, and with greater caution. In 

 garden or ornamented scenery they should seldom obtrude themselves by their mag- 

 nitude or glaring color; and rarely be erected but for some obvious purpose of 

 utility. 



6157. Covered seats and shelters are intro- 

 duced of many forms, and under a great 

 variety of names, such as root-houses, heath- 

 houses, moss-houses, huts, shelters, (Jig. 563.) 

 bowers, caverns, caves, grottoes, temples, 

 mosques, &c. besides plain covered seats either 

 of wood or stone. The imitation of temples or 

 mosques, as they must be on a small scale, is 

 generally quite ridiculous. The propriety of 

 introducing the others depends entirely upon 

 the character of the scene. Light bowers formed of lattice-work, and covered with 

 climbers, are in general most suitable to parterres ; plain covered seats suit the general 

 walks of the shrubbery. Most of the others may be introduced in romantic, singular, 

 wild, or melancholy places. 



