STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 31 



in poor crops. The surrounding edges or borders of the field only need 

 be planted. We could have a growth there which is both thoroughly 

 good and which is at the same time useful. There are plentj' of crops, 

 particularly those which require more wai-mth than the climate provides 

 for, a low line of shubbery is an important addition to their welfare and 

 often makes a good crop instead of a poor one. 



Trees and shrubs may also be used in the form of a belt plantation 

 to bring out some distant view in the landscape. On the north, north- 

 west, and northeast, you must make the planting pretty dense, and on 

 the south, southeast, and west openings can be left, and the trees and 

 shrubs will act as a frame, precisely as a frame enhances the value of a 

 picture. Just in Uie same way that trees and shrubs can be planted for 

 enhancing the view of the landscape, so any detrimental appearance can 

 be blotted out, you can plant it out with your trees and slirubs. A 

 modern method of planting shrubs which is obtaining a good deal of 

 consideration from the landscape gardeners oft he present day is this: 

 Wherever a house rises out of grass land, there alwaj-s is a certain 

 amount of bareness between the foundation stones of the house and the 

 ground. This bareness can be bridged over by a comparatively small 

 and inexpensive planting of ratlier low-growing shrubs. 



It is most objectionable to scatter slirubs through grass. You verj- 

 often see this where the land is comparatively limited, where only a 

 small amount can be planted, where tlie owner, perhaps, desires to get a 

 great many different sorts of shrubs he will scatter them through his 

 grass land. If he will confine his planting to the borders and make the 

 belt plantation of which I speak, it would not only be nioi'e desii'able and 

 the shrubs will be better in every waj^ but the effect of the planting 

 will be very more harmonious. Avoid a spotty look. Do not dot things 

 round and round ; the plants should grow together ; they should not be 

 left two or three to themselves. 



In regard to cultural directions. The most important matters of 

 which I can speak under this head are in respect to the preparation of 

 the soil. The most frequent mistake that is made by our amateur 

 planters, I mean by those who have had little experience in these 

 matters, is in this connection ; they fail to give the soil adequate prepara- 

 tion for the proper growth of the plants. 



Wherever any considerable amount of land is to be planted, i. e., if 

 you are planting by the acre in large quantities, the cost excludes prac- 

 tically any other preparation than by plowing, but this can be made 

 verj' thorough. You can plow and sub-soil, you can turn and till 

 the ground to the depth of eight or ten inches in ordinary soils, 

 and there is no need to say that under these circumstances a certain 

 amount of manure can be incorporated in the soil and if the soil is 

 light and sandy, as it often is along the seashore, there is nothing better 

 that can be added than leaf mold, decayed vegetable or other organic 

 matter. 



