244 
These are _ merely suggestions as to what may be accom- 
this purpose will suggest groupings to those interested. 
Now a word as to planting, an important factor in the final 
result, and one too often neglected. Do not plant too close. Itis 
better that the group appear a little too open at first than to ruin 
the individuality of the various shrubs. Shrubs, asa general rule, 
should be planted very little closer than the diameter of their ulti- 
mate growth. For instance, if a shrub has a general ultimate 
diameter of 4-5 feet, do not plant closer together than 3-4 feet, 
unless you want a dense meaningless mass of green with all indi- 
viduality of the elements lost, and with no undulations to the 
surface of the group. If your plants are very small to begin with, 
it is sometimes permissible to plant closer than the ultimate size 
of the plants would warrant, but only with the distinct under- 
standing with yourself that when the plants begin to crowd you 
will rearrange your group, taking out enough of the specimens to 
leave room for the development of the remainder. 
GeEorGE V. Nasu. 
THE LONG SUMMER DROUGHT. 
The month of June showed a rainfall of 4.84 inches. Of this 
amount 4.80 inches fell up to and including the 18th of the 
month. From this time the weather was characterized by un- 
usually low precipitation, only .o4 of an inch being recorded for 
the last twelve days of the month. 
During the month of July only three showers were recorded, 
.15 of an inch on the 7th, .36 of an inch on the 16th, and .13 of 
an inch on the 30th. A trace of rain was recorded on each of 
the following dates: 3d, roth, 12th, 19th, and 27th. The entire 
rainfall recorded for the month of July was .64 of an inch. 
The month of August was characterized by frequent, but very 
light showers, the heaviest shower recorded for the month 
amounting to .55 of an inch on the roth day of the month. In 
