Dreer’s 
Choice Hardy Shrubs 
NOTE.—Shrubs will be shipped on receipt of orders, or as soon as they can be dug, unless instructed to the contrary, and can 
only be sent by Freight or Express, at purchaser’s Expense. They are too heavy and large to be sent by mail. No charge for 
boxes. packing or delivery to express, freight or steamship lines in Philadelphia. 
THE PLANTING AND CARING OF SHRUBS. 
S secs deciduous and evergreen, are as much a part of the well balanced 
garden as the lawn or flower borders. 
ornamental foliage plant, while others are highly 
useful as cut flowers, and a well-arranged planting 
presents an attractive appearance throughout the 
entire year. 
Shrubs have many uses; such as a dividing line be- 
tween the flower and vegetable garden, or between 
the lawn and uncultivated land beyond; as a back- 
ground to a flower border; for hiding an unsightly 
building, fence or foundation, or they may be planted 
in a mixed shrubbery border, in which case those of 
short, dense growth should be planted along the front 
of the border, graduating to the tall-growing kinds at 
the back. 
Thorough preparation of the soil by spading, and 
the addition of a liberal quantity of sheep or stable 
manure or bone meal will be well repaid by strong, 
vigorous, healthy growth. All the attention necessary 
to such a border would be occasional cultivation to 
keep down weeds, and a little top dressing of manure 
or bone meal in the late fall to keep up the fertility 
of the border. In planting care should be taken not 
to overcrowd, allowing sufficient room for future de- 
velopment, and unless an immediate effect is wanted 
—in which case they may be planted closer and some 
of them moved when necessary—the majority of the 
dwarf-growing kinds may be set about 3 feet apart, 
the tall, strong growers, about 5 feet apart. 
Deciduous Shrubs should be planted in spring as 
soon as frost is out and the ground in workable con- 
dition. This gives them a chance to make some root- 
growth before hot weather comes, and while it is quite 
possible to plant up until the beginning ot May, they 
will not do as well as if planted earlier. 
The question of when and how to prune Shrubs 
is one that is frequently asked, and as nohaid and 
fast rule can be given, we can but indicate in a gen- 
eral way what should be done. 
All Shrubs that blossom before midsummer, such as 
Deutzias, Forsythias, Lilacs, Philadelphus, Weigelias, 
ete., produce their flowers on the growth of wood made the 
previous year. To prune these in fall or spring would be to 
destroy most of the flowers for that season. These, therefore, 
should have any necessary pruning done immediately after 
flowering. Varieties which blossom after midsummer produce 
their blooms on wood made the same season. This class in- 
cludes such kinds as Altheas, Desmodiums, Hydrangeas, etc., 
Abelia Chinensis Grandiflora. A choice, small Shrub of 
graceful habit, producing through the entire summer and fall 
months white tinted lilac heather-like flowers in such abund- 
ance as to completely cover the plant. (Illustrated on page 
246.) 30 cts. each. 
Althea (Rose of Sharon). The Altheas are among the most 
valuable of our tall hardy Shrubs on account of their late 
season of blooming, which is from August to October, a period 
when but few Shrubs are in flower. ‘They are also extensively 
used as hedge plants, for which they are admirably adapted. 
We offer the following choice sorts: 
— Alba plena. Double white, crimson centre. 
— Ceerulea plena. Double blue. ; 
— Duchess de Brabant. Double dark red. 
— Poliis Variegatis. Leaves variegated green and white. 
— Jeanne d’Arc. Double pure white. } 
— Lady Stanley. Double blush-white with crimson centre. 
— Rubis. Single, deep crimson. 
— Totus Albus. Fine, single, pure white, very desirable. 
830 cts. each. Set of 8 varieties, $2.00. 
Many of them are as decorative as any 
_ <e 
ALTHEA Wi Lt1Am R. SmitTH 
| and these should be pruned in early spring. In our judgment, 
| Shrubs are, as a rule, pruned too much, all the pruning, or 
rather trimming, that is necessary being just enough to keep 
the plant in nice symmetrical shape, care, of course, being taken 
| to cut out all dead wood, and removing sufficient surplus growth, 
if any, to admit a free circulation of air and sunshine to all 
parts of the plant. 
New Giant-flowered Althea 
WILLIAM R. SMITH. 
Everyone will be pleased with this splendid new variety; one 
of our own introductions named in honor of the late William 
R. Smith, who for over a half century was superintendent of the 
Botanical Gardens at Washington, D. C. 
The habit of the plant is ideal, naturally forming attractive, 
symmetrical, bushy specimens, while the glistening pure white 
flowers are of giant size compared to all other sorts, being fully 
4 inches in diameter under ordinary cultivation, and open out 
flat or salver-shaped quite different from the older types which 
only partially expand; these large, showy flowers are produced 
in great profusion from early in July until late in September, 
and are very conspicuous at a period when comparatively few 
Shrubs are in bloom. Strong two-year-old plants, 75 cts., each, 
$7.50 per doz. 
We will supply all Shrubs priced at 30 cts. each for $3.00 per doz.; $20.00 per 100. 
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