140 



THE ILLINOIS FARMER. 



Mat 



Shrubs. 



Although shrubbery, properly planted and 

 cared for, constitutes one of the principal attrac- 

 tions of the garden, yet it is strangely neglected 

 even in many gardens which, in other respects, 

 are all that could be desired. Whether we con- 

 Bider the variety of form and foliage, the attract- 

 iveness of bloom, or the ease of culture, this de- 

 partment of the flower garden is certainly worthy 

 of more attention than it has hitherto received. 

 As the time has come when shrubs should be 

 planted, a few remarks concerning them may not 

 be amiss. 



As most shrubs commence their growth very 

 early in the spring, they should be planted as 

 early as the ground is in fit condition. Where 

 new plants are wanted, cuttings should be im- 

 mediately made and kept in sand until the weather 

 is suflSciently mild to permit their planting. In 

 many of the varieties, plants may be grown from 

 cuttings with as much ease as currents or goose- 

 berries. 



In general, shrubs should be planted in groups 

 or clumps rather than singly, although a single 

 plant of the large sorts may be grown as a spec- 

 imen, with good effect sometimes. Of course the 

 number of shrubs composing a group must de- 

 pend a good deal upon the size of the grounds. 

 In a large alace the number of shrubs in a group 

 should not only be greater, but larger shrubs, 

 even approaching the size of small trees, may 

 appropriately be employed. 



The soil for shrubs should be a moderately en- 

 riched garden loam and should receive a slight 

 top-dressing of well rotted manure each season. 



But little pruning is necessary. A stiff, for- 

 mal shape for shrubs is not at all desirable, but 

 a natural form should be kept, free from strag- 

 gling and deformed branches. 



In planting a clump of shrubs, if on the bor- 

 ders of the garden, the largest size should be 

 planted at the back and smaller ones in the 

 front, the latter hiding the naked stems of the 

 former. If in the open ground, the large ones 

 should be planted in the center and the dwarfer 

 Borts around them. The forms of the clumps 

 may be various, round, oval, palm-leaf or irreg- 

 ular ; any shape being preferable to those with 

 acute angles, as triangular, square, etc. 



A list of select shrubs is added, which is not 

 to be considered as comprising all that are desir- 

 able, but only a few of the best and mo« easily 

 cultivated. Of large sorts I would name: 



Althea or Rose of Sharon. — Desirable on ac- 

 count of blooming in the autumn months, when 

 few shrubs are in flower. 



Chionanthus or White Fringe. — This is a fine, 

 large shrub, with large leaves, and flowers in 

 long bunches of fringe-like appearance. 



Cornus or Dogwood — the red branched variety 

 is very ornamental. 



Cydonia J» ponica or Japan Quince — ^is a very 

 beautiful shrub, with scarlet or blush flowers. 



Currant — The flowering currants are all fine 

 Bbrubs, with various collored flowers, of very 

 easy culture. 



Euonymous or Burning Bush — with oraa- 

 mental fruit in autumn. 



Privet — A well known hedge plant. Fine in 

 shrubbery. 



Philadelphus ooronaria or Syringa — A well 

 known fragrant shrub. Very desirable. 



Rose Acacia — A handsome spreading, irregu- 

 lar shrub wish long clusters of rose-colored 

 flowers. 



Syringa vulgaris or Common Liao — weU known. 



Syrings persica or Persian Lilac — more deli- 

 cate than the common lilac. 



Viburnum Opuius or Snow-Ball — Well known. 



Of the dwarfer sorts the following are desirable: 



Amygdalus or Almond. — The double flowering 

 dwarf almond is beautiful, and too well known 

 to need any description. 



Berbcris or Barberry— Pretty shrubs. 



Calycanthus or Alspice — with' fragrant wood. 

 Flowers dark brown, of a peculiar and agreeable 

 odor. 



Deutzia — A beaitiful family of shrubs, of 

 which D. gracillis is the smallest and most beau- 

 tiful. This variety should be found in every col- 

 lection. 



Kerria Japonica or Corchorus japonica — Yel- 

 low flowers. 



Peonia Moutan or Tree Peony — Fine shrub, 

 with magnificent large flowers. 



Roses of all sorts. 



Spireas of various kinds — all beautiful. 



Weigelia — One of the very best dwarf shrubs, 

 fine in foilage and form, abundant and beautiful 

 in bloom. Some of the recent introductions are 

 especially desirable. 



Every garden should contain specimens of the 

 Weigelias, Spireas and Deutzias. G. B, H. 

 — [Country Oentleman. 



—t~ 



Some of the Profits of Sheep. 



Last year I sheared four hundred and sixteen 

 pounds of good clean washed wool from fifty- 

 nine sheep, being about seven pounds per head, 

 which sold for forty five cents, averageing me 

 $3,17 per fleece. I raised from the flock thirty- 

 seven lambs worth five dollars a head, which 

 amounted to $185. This added to the wool 

 money makes $372,20, My sheep are Spanish 

 Merino, and mostly breeding ewes. I feed with 

 tame hay and but little grain. I have forty-one 

 in one flock that I feed half a bushel of brand 

 and oats mixed about half and half, once a day, 

 and they will gain on that from the time they are 

 taken up in the fall until spring. 



1 notice in a late number of the Farmer, that 

 something has been done in the way of exami- 

 ning the fineness of wool ; I suppose I can show 

 as fine merino wool as there is in the country, 

 but the finest wool is not to be found on the best 

 sheep, nor the most profitable. I have seen very 

 fine wool on small sheep which I would not con- 

 sider worth wintering on account of their being 

 tender and sheeiing very light fleeces. I am In 

 for the fleece that will fetch the most money and 

 keep easy. 



I shall hold myself ready to shear bucks or 

 ewes against any sheep in this State, of one 

 years growth of clean wool. — Michigan Farmer, 



