284 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



Few shrubs will grow under the Beech, or 

 in Pine plantations; but the following succeed 

 in the shade, or partial shade, of most other 

 trees, those first mentioned being the best 

 adapted for the purpose: — Ivy, Periwinkle, 

 Hypericum calycinum, Yew, Gaultheria Shallon, 

 Ruscus, Box, Snowberry, Hedge-Maple, Hazel, 

 Euonymus radicans, Berberis Aquifolium, Daphne 

 Laureola, Ribes, Elder, Privet, Broom, Rhodo- 

 dendron, Holly, Laurel, and Laurustinus. 



For planting in large towns, deciduous trees, 

 such as the Plane, Horse-Chestnut, Lime, Syca- 

 more, and Elm, are among the best of the larger 

 trees; whilst of smaller, flowering kinds, Lilacs, 

 Laburnums, Almonds, and Thorns are recom- 

 mended. Of evergreens the Hollies, Box, 

 Aucubas, Phillyreas, Holm -Oak, Euonymus, 

 and Privets are suitable. Some of the best 

 climbers for towns are the Ivy, Virginian 

 Creeper, Ampelopsis tricuspidata, Wistaria, For- 

 sythia suspensa, Jasminum nudiflorum, Common 

 Jasmine, and Crakegus pyracantha. 



A few words may be said on the question of 

 the arrangement of shrubs in borders or beds. 

 Instead of the indiscriminate mixing which is 

 so frequent in the garden, the aim should be 

 to group the plants of the same species, either 

 by themselves, or in association with others 

 whose foliage or habit will enhance their at- 

 tractions. The beautiful Mezereon, for instance, 

 is more attractive where sufficient plants arc 

 brought together to cover a few square yards 

 than when it is dotted about singly; and its 

 beauty at the season of flowering is brought 

 out even more effectively if a dwarf evergreen, 

 like Gaultheria procumbens <>r Ruscus hypoglossum, 

 is planted as a groundwork to supply the foil 

 of dark-green which the Daphne, in its then 

 leafless condition, lacks. The Japanese Witch 

 Hazels (Hamamelis), whose yellow flowers are 

 amongst the earliest harbingers of spring, re- 

 quire a similar accompaniment of dark -green 

 against which the bright yellow flowers may 

 show in vivid contrast. The purple -leaved 

 Prunus Pissardi and the yellow-leaved Mock- 

 Orange, or Corn us alba, var. Spathii, make an 

 effective combination. It is not suggested that 

 in small gardens the space at disposal should be 

 occupied by large masses of a few things, and 

 variety sacrificed in order to produce a few 

 broad effects. To one who really loves plants 

 the more species and varieties his garden con- 

 tains the greater pleasure will it afford him. 

 The idea is, rather, that the shrubbery border 

 is more effective, and the beauty of a plant 

 better shown, when it is represented by a group 



of specimens than when they are distributed 

 singly. 



In large gardens a feature of great beauty 

 and interest may be made by setting apart a 

 piece of ground in which shrubs, trees, and 

 small plants can be allowed to grow their own 

 way, a kind of "wild garden" in which the 

 hand of the gardener is not evident. Such 

 a garden is best on the outskirts of the garden 



Fig. 343.— Arundiuaria Simoni. 



proper, forming a connecting link between it 

 and the park or woodland beyond. If possible 

 it should have a varied, undulating surface 

 upon which a few scattered trees are growing; 

 and disposed amongst these, in informal groups, 

 should be masses of free-growing Roses, various 

 species of Rubus, Diervilla, Syringa, Philadel- 

 phus, Cotoneaster, Berberis, and numerous 

 other shrubs native and foreign. Groups of 

 large herbaceous plants, Snowdrops, Bluebells, 

 Daffodils, and other bulbs may be used with 

 excellent effect. A few evergreens are needed 

 for winter effect, such as Box, Holly, Laurel, 

 and Rhododendron, allowing them to assume 

 their natural habit. Luxuriance of growth is, 

 of course, a first essential, and this means that 

 the same care in trenching, manuring, &c, is as 



