138 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



on the water of a miniature waterfall nearby. A sunken garden 

 with a fountain in the center surrounded by a few narrow formal beds 

 and with Boxwoods in concrete vases at the corners will help to make 

 another feature of certain grounds. The vegetable garden may be 

 screened off by a small thicket of native shrubs with a path winding 

 through it and an arbor at the entrance, and you may suggest a wad- 

 ing pool for the "kiddies," or a swimming pool with an evergreen 

 hedge for a screen. Bird houses and feeding places for birds, with a 

 group of native trees to afford shade and plenty of ferns are in order, 

 and so are a few of the many beautiful native, hardy plants, with a 

 path made of stepping stones leading to an open space that is just 

 the right spot for a camp fireplace and rustic seats. Not every 

 ground requires or wants a terrace, but some do and it is here that 

 the stone step and stone walk are in order. All of the above are only 

 a few of many suggestions which might be offered in helping to make 

 the home grounds attractive and the layout different from others 

 in the same neighborhood or community. 



RAISING SHRUBS AS A SIDE LINE 



FOR the florist located near a nursery where he can quickly ob- 

 tain whatever he needs in shrubs and trees, it may not pay to 

 think about growing on some of this stock himself. But there are many 

 florists who do more or less landscape work, and who must have the 

 stock they need shipped great distances, and so find it convenient 

 to devote a part of their grounds to the growing on of shrubs and small 

 trees of the more popular varieties. Then there is still another 

 class, and to my mind the largest, made up of those who have by 

 years of experience found that, whether they are located one mile 

 or 500 miles from the nearest nursery, it pays them best to buy what 

 they want when it comes to well-grown, clean shrubs ranging from 

 2 to 4 ft. in height — and these are needed by the hundreds. 



On the other hand, it is well to devote a little land to the growing 

 on of specimens so as to have them on hand whenever a customer 

 wants such material. There are times when from $10 to $25 is readily 

 paid for a large specimen Lilac, Honeysuckle, Spiraea, High- 

 bush Cranberry, Japan Quince, Philadelphus or Weigela. It is true 

 that such specimens don't always do well, but there is a demand for 

 them; there are people who simply cannot wait a couple of years 

 for a Lilac 2 or 3 ft. in height to grow and develop into a flowering 

 plant. They not only want an immediate effect and flowers the 

 first year, no matter how poor they may be, but they are willing to 

 pay for it. There are nurseries where such specimens are grown on 

 to supply this kind of demand, but you cannot very well ship such 

 stock with naked roots. That would require cutting it away back 

 after planting, which is not necessary if a plant is lifted and delivered 



