114 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



makes it impossible for us to neglect it in selecting lawn- 

 planting material. 



The white fringe (chionanthus virginica) has scarcely 

 any relation to the smoke-tree except in name and vigor 

 of growth, for they both make trees rather than shrubs. 

 The foliage of the white fringe is light green and glossy, 

 and the flowers are like the most delicate white lace, 

 blooming in profusion, and giving the shrub, or tree, its 

 chief value. It should stand alone, or on the outskirts 

 of a group of trees or large shrubs. 



Of the hibiscus syriacus, rose of Sharon or althea, 

 it may be said that it has at least one attraction in its 

 bloom in August ; but otherwise it is stiff in habit, some- 

 what coarse in appearance, and exhibiting dull-red, 

 brick-colored and bluish tints that are not pleasing to 

 many. 



Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora is at the present 

 time one of the most popular shrubs used on the la\vn, 

 but in reality its chief value lies in its late-blooming qual- 

 ity, the large lumpy clusters of white flowers changing 

 in fall to purple, red, and crimson, being showy rather 

 than beautiful, and the foliage uninteresting and some- 

 what insignificant. 



Just at the present time there is almost a craze, speak- 

 ing horticulturally, for the California privet, which is 

 really a Japanese species, ligustrum ovalifolium. There 

 is no doubt its popularity is based on considerable founda- 

 tion, for it transplants easily, grows rapidly, holds its 

 leaves till winter, and makes a great solid mass of dark 

 shining green, and has, what is a very unusual qualification 

 in a shrub, the ability to grow tolerably well in the shade ; 

 and the word ' ' tolerably ' ' is used advisedly, because no 

 shrub can be expected to do as well in the shade as in 



