2oS AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



versally used California Privet has of late replaced it for 

 hedge work, it is still the best thing to plant for a tall, stiff 

 hedge. For single specimens Juniperus Virginiana is one of 

 the best that can be had and is almost as artistic in eiffect 

 as the famous cypresses of Italy. 



The Use of Shrubs 



The one object in using shrubs of course is to make the 

 place beautiful; but there are, in general, three ways of 

 using them toward this end. As a background for lower 

 growing plants, flower beds, or lawns; for hedges, boundary 

 Unes, or screens; and for the beauty of their flowers or 

 foHage, berries, or bark, either in beds or as individual 

 specimens. Of course these three uses are seldom distinct 

 and separate — which only illustrates further the many- 

 sided advantages of shrub plantings. 



The first thing to do in selecting shrubs for the place 

 is to determine in which of these ways we wish to use them, 

 and how extensively; and the best way to get an accurate 

 idea of our wants or needs (for the natural "lay of the 

 land" and other existing conditions will determine to a 

 great extent the shrubs we should select) is to go over the 

 ground carefully, sketching down the various groups, 

 hedges, screens, or location of individual specimens we 

 may wish to place. Then put these all down in proportion 

 on one plan, to be used as a guide and kept for future refer- 

 ence. Of course the whole thing need not be carried out 

 at once; we may put in a hedge of barberry this fall, along 

 the front of the place, and a couple of hardy, large-flowered 

 hydrangeas well down the front walk to give a semi-formal 

 touch to the approach. But that rather ugly corner back 

 by the garage may have to wait a year longer — being 

 screened temporarily by a group of ricinus (the giant castor- 

 oil plant), or even by homely sunflowers. 



The shrubs suited for these several purposes are not 

 divided into any hard and fast groups. All of them are 

 available for more than one of the purposes mentioned 



