CHAPTER VII 
THE GROWING OF THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS — THE CLASSES OF 
PLANTS, AND LISTS 
In choosing the kinds of plants for the main grounds the 
gardener should carefully distinguish two categories, — those 
plants to compose the structural masses and design of the place, 
and those that are to be used for mere ornament. The chief 
merits to be sought in the former are good foliage, pleasing 
form and habit, shades of green, and color of winter twigs. 
The merits of the latter lie chiefly in flowers or colored foliage. 
Each of these categories should be again divided. Of plants 
for the main design, there might be discussion of trees for a 
windbreak, of trees for shade; of shrubs for screens or heavy 
plantings, for the lighter side plantings, and for incidental 
masses about the buildings or on the lawn; and perhaps also of 
vines for porches and arbors, of evergreens, of hedges, and of 
the heavier herbaceous masses. 
Plants used for mere embellishment or ornamentation may 
be ranged again into categories for permanent herbaceous 
borders, for display beds, ribbon edgings, annuals for tempo- 
rary effects, foliage beds, plants for adding color and emphasis 
to the shrubbery masses, plants desired to be grown as single 
specimens or as curiosities, and plants for porch-boxes and 
window-gardens. 
Having now briefly suggested the uses of the plants, we shall 
proceed to discuss them in reference to the making of home 
grounds. This chapter contains a brief consideration of 
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