82 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



OCTOBEE, 1914- 



leaves through crushing and decay, if they 

 do not receive more serious injury. 



At the very first opportunity after the 

 stock arrives, but preferably on a quiet 

 cloudy day, it should be planted. The 

 "border" for the shrubs, or the holes where 

 individual specimens are to be set, should 

 have been prepared beforehand, because 

 it is important that the operation of plant- 

 ing should be concluded in as short a time 

 as possible. Make a hole in the prepared 

 soil large enough to accommodate the roots 

 of the shrubs to be set in a natural position 

 and without crowding. Any long straggling 

 roots, or any which through accident have 

 become injured, should be pruned back to 

 convenient length or to firm wood. Set 

 the plant in so that it will be slightly deeper 

 than it grew before, and while holding it in 

 an upright position with the left hand, 

 work in fine rich soil about the roots with 

 the right. Use the fingers, or a small 

 blunt stick, to press the earth down firmly, 

 being sure to fill up all crevices or air spaces. 

 After the fine roots are covered up, so that 

 there is no danger of bruising or breaking 

 them, use the ball of the foot to pack the 

 earth still more firmly. As the job nears 

 completion, both feet and one's full weight 

 may be used. The surface of the soil how- 

 ever should be covered with fine loose earth. 

 This is to create a mulch to prevent the too 

 rapid evaporation of moisture which, even 

 at this time of year, in case of continued 

 bright windy days, will all be needed for the 

 plants. If the soil is so dry that water is 

 needed, the best way to use it is to pour 



Weigela is a reliable shrub for difficult situations, flower- 

 ing well even in dense shade. The whita form makes a 

 fine specimen 



some into the hole and let it soak away be- 

 fore setting the plant, and repeat the opera- 

 tion after the hole has been half filled. Where 

 water is not available for use in this way 

 the roots may be dipped in water or very 

 thin mud before planting to insure intimate 

 contact between the soil particles and the 

 roots. 



I have said that the soil should be got 

 ready before the plants are set out. The 

 matter of fertilization for trees or shrubs is 

 very important — much more so than with 

 annuals. Especially should there be plenty 

 of available plant-food in the soil for the first 



two or three seasons. After that they will 

 be able to forage over a considerable extent 

 for themselves. Well rotted manure, and 

 bone — coarse and fine mixed in equal parts 

 — should be added liberally to the border 

 or to each hole. Two or three forkfuls 

 of manure, and a handful or two of bone, 

 will be enough for each shrub. Both 

 should be mixed thoroughly with the soil, 

 and kept well below the surface. Where 

 a border is being prepared it should be 

 plowed or spaded as deep as possible. If 

 single holes are dug out they should be 

 made two or three times as great in diame- 

 ter as the ball of roots of the plant would 

 necessitate. If there is a hard clay sub- 

 soil it should be broken up with a pick, 

 or still better with a few charges of dyna- 

 mite before planting. 



In the nursery catalogues shrubs are list- 

 ed alphabeticaUy. In articles on landscape 

 gardening they are usually presented in 

 tables giving comparative data as to 

 height, colors, time of bloom, etc. A classi- 

 fication much easier for the beginner to 

 make himself familiar with is the following : 



i. Shrubs suitable for low groups or 

 foregrounds. Lily-of-the-valley shrub (An- 

 dromeda); Clethera; Heather (Calluna) 

 and Heath (Erica), both requiring rather 

 moist soil; Daphne; Deutzia; Spirea 

 Thunbergii; Azaleas, especially in flowering 

 beds. 



2. Shrubs suitable for tall groups or 

 backgrounds. Dogwood (Cornus florida); 

 Red-bud (Cercis); Deutzia; Forsythia; 

 Laurel (Kalmia); Lilac (Syringa); Honey- 



Does not this convince you that a moderate investment in trees ; nd shrubs helps to turn a house into a home? Compare this picture with the average house anywhere 



