THE COMMON SHRUBBERY. 53 
While such is the ‘case, it will be impossible to have an 
agreeable or interesting margin to a shrubbery or plantation. 
What secrets one might have in the central hidden portions of 
these now dug and bare shrubberies—in the half-shady spots 
where little colonies of rare exotic wildlings might have their 
first introduction to our wild garden! Of course all the labour 
required to produce this miserable result of dug borders is 
worse than thrown away, as the shrubberies would do better 
Large White Achilleas spread into wide masses under shade of trees in shrubbery. 
if let alone, and by utilising the power thus wasted, we might 
highly beautify the positions that are now so ugly. 
If we resolve that no annual manuring or digging is to be 
permitted, nobody will grudge a thorough preparation at first. 
When a plantation of shrubs is quite young it is well to 
keep the ground open by lightly stirring it for a year or two. 
Then the planting should be so arranged as to defeat the 
digger. To graduate the vegetation from the taller subjects 
behind to the very margin of the grass is of much importance, 
