SUBURBAN GARDENING 



which the sunshine filters in welcome shafts at evening. 

 Of what shall we plant our boundary so that, while 

 shutting out all impression of near objects, it may still 

 give us glimpses of them, and so create an illusion of 

 distance ? Just a glimpse of sky, trees, house tops, of a 

 church spire, even of ugly chimneys, may and does place 

 these at an indefinite distance when seen through an 

 opening of trees or a creeper-covered arch. 



If we follow the example of Mr. G. Hillyard Swin- 

 stead, as described in his charming book, " The Story of 

 my Old-world Garden and how I made it in a London 

 Suburb," we shall use trained Apple, Cherry, and Almond 

 trees. Mr. Swinstead says that " My boundary screen 

 formed of these trees looks delightful in spring time 

 with early pink and white blossoms and delicate green, 

 contrasting with the coppery red leaf of the Prunus 

 Pissardi. The Crab Apple is charming for this purpose, 

 with its flower in spring and crimson fruit in autumn." 



The great charm of a screen of this kind is that while 

 it ensures privacy to the garden it does not shut out the 

 sunshine, as, for instance, a close planting of Laurel, 

 Ivy, and other evergreen creepers does. The latter have 

 an advantage in winter, it is true, since they are leaf- 

 covered, while those recommended are bare. However, 

 they are at a disadvantage in that they shade the ground 

 when sunshine is most precious, and when the ground is 

 most in need of it. We cannot have it both ways. I 

 recommend as the alternative most to be desired, and 



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