1 10 GARDENS AND THEIR MEANING 



should be given more water at intervals as they are being set 

 into place. When the trench is filled, he treads down the 

 earth with his whole weight ; and when all this is done, he 

 mulches the plants with straw or leaves. As soon as time 

 permits, the branches must be trimmed. It will not do to 

 make the mistake of pruning in summer when the sap is 

 moving ; and it must be remembered that an evergreen 

 tree cannot be pruned oftener than once a year, and that 

 in the spring. 



Every one speaks a good word for shrubs. For purposes 

 of decoration they will be set out either singly or in clumps, 

 seldom in rows. They will act, too, as a windbreak for some 

 bed of tender plants. Again, they may be set out in order 

 to give a bit of seclusion to one corner of the garden. A 

 hedge of flowering shrubs proves the neighborhood's delight. 

 The only difficulty is in choosing from such a great variety 

 as is offered. All gardeners have their favorites. Some sing 

 the praises of the Japanese quince, which certainly does border 

 a garden charmingly. Others think nothing equal to the Tar- 

 tarian honeysuckle, especially the lovely pink flowering sort, 

 and it is true that, whether in blossom or in berry, it is always 

 superb. Forsythia finds favor as a hedge ; the plant keeps its 

 leaves till cold weather. It pays a garden maker to study how 

 to mass shrubs so as to secure happy effects. Not everybody 

 can paint pictures. Fortunately, those who can use a brush 

 and colors are not the only artists in the world ; some persons 

 truly succeed in becoming "artists in things." Many a person 

 can educate himself to be such an artist ; by watching colors, 

 forms, and shadows he can really create beauty in a garden by 

 means of his plants. 



When all is said, it may still seem as though some per- 

 sons were wizards in the sense that they can stick anything 

 into the ground and make it flourish. Perpetual good luck, 



