56 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
there may be opportunity for a little neat and artistic plant- 
ing. Even if one lives in a rented house, he may bring in a 
bush or an herb from the woods, and paint a picture with it. 
Plant it in the corner by the steps, in front of the porch, at 
the corner of the house, — almost anywhere except in the 
center of the lawn. Make the ground rich, secure a strong 
root, and plant it with care; then wait. The little clump will 
not only have a beauty and interest of its own, but it may 
add immensely to the furniture of the yard. 
50. Young shoots of ailanthus (and sunflowers for variety). 
About these clumps one may plant bulbs of glowing tulips 
or dainty snowdrops and lilies-of-the-valley; and these may be 
followed with pansies and phlox and other simple folk. Very 
soon one finds himself deeply interested in these random 
and detached pictures, and almost before he is aware he finds 
that he has rounded off the corners of the house, made snug little 
arbors of wild grapes and clematis, covered the rear fence and 
the outhouse with actinidia and bitter-sweet, and has thrown 
in dashes of color with hollyhocks, cannas, and lilies, and has 
tied the foundations of the buildings to the greensward by low 
