114 THE WILD GARDEN. 
allowing abundant space to the shrubs and trees, both in the 
young and the adult stage, gives us some space to deal with, 
which may be occupied with weeds if we do not take care of 
it. The remedy, then, is to replace the weed by a beautiful 
flower, and to let some handsome hardy plant of the northern 
world occupy each little space; keeping it clean for us, and, at 
the same time, repaying us by abundant bloom, or fine foliage 
or habit. This system in the first place allows the shrubs 
themselves to cover the ground to a great extent. In the 
London parks now every shrub is cut under so as to allow 
the digger to get near it; and this leads to the most comical 
and villainous of shapes ever assumed by bushes. Even the ' 
lilac bushes, which we see so horribly stiff, will cover the 
ground with their branches if allowed room enough; there- 
fore, to a great extent, we should have the branches them- 
selves covering the ground instead of what we now see. But 
open spaces, little bays and avenues running in among the 
shrubs, are absolutely essential, if we want to fully enjoy 
what ought to be the beautiful inhabitants of our shrub 
garden. Such openings offer delightful retreats for hardy 
flowers, many of which thrive better in semi-shady spots 
than they do in the open, while the effect of the flowers is 
immeasurably enhanced by the foliage of the shrubs around. 
To carry out this plan well, one should have, if possible, a 
good selection of the shrubs to begin with, although the 
plainest shrubbery, which is not overgrown or overcrowded, 
may be embellished with hardy plants on the ground. The 
plan may be adopted in the case of new shrubberies being 
formed, or in the case of old ones; though the old ones are 
frequently so dried up and overcrowded that great alterations 
