SHRUBBERY 



SHRUBBERY 



1 (iG5 



ally has a number of stt-uis sprinijrinir t'nim thi.- iri^nini 

 aud a tree usually has a .siui^lc trunk, but this is iu>t 

 uniformly true iu either case. 



The chief value of shrulibf-ry coiues from its use in 

 an artistic way, although some shrubs have edible 

 fruits. Many shrubs, such as lilacs, some of the spi- 

 reas, gooseberries and currants, produce leaves vcr^ 

 early in the season and some, like Forsythia. Daphne, 

 and the Juueberry are covered "vvitb a profusion of blos- 

 soms at this time. From early spring until November 

 iu temperate latitudes leaves and tluWL^rs are to be found 

 on deciduous shrubs, and from JuTie until the following 

 spring ornamental fruits can be st-en on their branches, 

 the red berries of the elder beginning and barberries 

 ending the list. Some of these fruits are so richly 

 colored anil so abundant that they can be seen from a 

 long distance, ^lauy shrubs, like some of the vibur- 

 nums aud dogwoiid^, attain a height of 10 or 15 feet, 

 while others, like bunchlterry and Daphne Cneorurn, 

 grow to a height of only a few inches. The leaves of 

 some, like the chokeberry. Thunberg's barberry, the 

 hazels, vilmruums, dogwoods, and sumachs are beauti- 

 fully colored iu the tall. The rhododendrons, laurels 

 (Fig. 232i_i) and mahonias, and the daphne already 

 named, are examples of shrubs having evergreen foli- 

 age. Some leaves, like those of the SuJix hicida, are 

 glossy ; others, as those of the common hazel, are 

 hairy: some are thick, aud others are thin; some large, 

 some small; some entire, and some lobed, serrated or 

 compound. Thr<.iughout the season the ftdiage of a good 

 collection of shrubbery will present the greatest variety 

 oi color, including all the hundreds of shades of green 

 as well as yellow, white, gray and purple. Even iu 

 winter shrubbery is wonderfully attractive in appear- 

 ance from the gracefulness of its stems and branches, 

 and from the coU>r of its bark. With the right selec- 



tii'ns it will serve 



-J r-* 



3Ki 



2323. Variety and interest arc increased 



2324. The Shrubbery-masses usually should be placed 

 on the boundaries. 



This great variety in foliage, flower, fruit and habit 

 uf growth makes shrubbery a'hipted to very exten<led 

 use in the development of landscapes. It is especially 

 appropriate along the boundaries of ornamental grounds 

 (Fig. 2:i24), upon steep slopes, and in the immediate 

 vicinity of buildings where foliage an<l graceful lines 

 are needed to connect the walls of a structure with the 

 ground (Fig. 2;{2r)) , without making too nuich shade. 

 It might with advantage replace the grass upon all sur- 

 faces too steep to walk upon with comfort. The foliage 

 of shrubs that are well estahli.shed remains green when 

 di\ weitliei turns grass brown. The broad mass of 

 shrub] p]\ v,i\\ tike care of itself when the grass needs 

 fre lueut ittention. Even some level surfaces might be 

 improved in pi i es by exchanging a lawn covering for 

 the Goveung of 1 )w woody plants. Often a broad, open 

 spice over =i Hwn is an important feature of a landscape, 

 since It all >ws extended views. Many times a landscape 

 would be m( le interesting if the green underneath this 

 open sp ue were \ roduced by a broad mass of shrubbery 

 like a mini itun forest instead of grass. 



In I 1 iiitn g 1 oi lers or groups of shrubs, the ground 

 to be occupied by such a group 

 should be entirely spaded over or 

 __, ^ plowed. Perhaps no better ad- 



' vice could be given than to pre- 



pare the soil as it should be pre- 

 pared for a tiehl of eorn. The 

 l)ushes should then t.>e phmled so 

 that there is ntom for altout two 

 years' growth Ij e f o r e their 

 liranches intermingle. If placed 

 idoser they would have a crowded 

 appearance from the start and 

 ^ ^ would not join their branches as 



harmoniously as when the new 

 growth is allowed to choose its 

 own position. If placed farther 

 ajpartthe eftect is also bad. Oc- 

 casionally a single shrub at the 

 margin of a l.udt n"'ay stand out 

 almost >iy itself, but generally 

 the etfect vi a i^rroup should be 

 tliat of a continuo\is mass of 

 \"arying foliage. In arranging 

 ditferent shrubs the taller-grow- 

 ing kinds should generally be 

 placed in the center of the group. 

 and the lower species along the 

 border, the space being graded 

 from the highest to the lowest. 

 The reason for this arrangement 

 1-; that the lower plants would 

 lie killed by the shade of the 

 larger ones if placed liack i:if 

 them, and moreover would not 

 be seen; but one should avoid too 

 uniform a slope. For instance. 





