76 



MANUAL OF GARDENING 



entire area. Spade up the ground, set the bushes thick, hoe 

 them at intervals, and then let them go. If you do not like 

 the bare earth between them, sow in the seeds of hardy annual 

 flowers, like phlox, petunia, alyssum, and pinks. Never set 

 the bushes in holes dug in the old sod (Fig. 75) . The person who 

 plants his shrubs in holes in the sward does not seriously mean to 

 make any foliage mass, and it is Hkely that he does not know 

 what relation the border mass has to artistic planting. The 

 illustration. Fig. 76, shows the office that a shrubbery may per- 

 form in relation to a building; this particular building was 

 erected in an open field. 



76. A border group, limiting the space next the residence and separating it 

 from the fields and the clothes-yards. 



I have said to plant the bushes thick. This is for quick effect. 

 It is an easy matter to thin the plantation if it becomes too thick. 

 All common bushes may usually be planted as close as two to 

 three feet apart each way, especially if one gets many of them 

 from the fields, so that he does not have to buy them. If 

 there are not sufficient of the permanent bushes for thick plant- 

 ing, the spaces may be filled temporarily by cheaper or com- 

 moner bushes; but do not forget to remove the fillers as rapidly 

 as the others need the room. 



