ei^^ 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 PLAXXING AND CARE OF SHRUBS. 



SHRUBS, deciduous and evergreen, are as much a part of 

 the well-balanced garden as the lawn or flower borders. 

 Many of them are as decorative as any 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 between the 

 flower and vegetable garden, or between the lawn and unculti- 

 vated land beyond; as a background 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 fertiltity of the 

 border. In planting, care should be taken not to overcowd, allowing sufficient 

 room for future development, and unless an immediate effect is wanted — in 

 which case they may be planted closer and some of them moved when neces- 

 sary — 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 condition. 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 of May, they will not do as well as if planted earlier. 



Deciduous Shrubs of all kinds may be planted directly after the first frost in 

 the fall, usually about October loth in the latitude of Philadelphia, and as 

 there are six weeks of good weather after that date, and less to do at that time 

 than in the spring, it is well to take advantage of the conditions in the au- 

 tumn. 



The question of when and how to prune Shrubs is one that is frequently 

 asked, and as no hard and fast rule can be given, we can but indicate in a gene- 

 ral way what should be done. 



All Shrubs that blossom before midsummer, such as Deutzias, 

 Forsythias, Lilacs, Philadelphus, W eiglias, etc., 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 blos- 

 som after midsummer produce their blooms on wood made the 

 same season. This class includes such kinds as Altheas, Des- 

 modiums. Hydrangeas, etc., 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 re- 

 moving sufficient surplus growth, if any, to admit a free circula- 

 tion of air and sunshine to all parts of the plant. 



Ai-THKA Alba Plena. 



Abelia Chinensis Grandifloha. 



Abelia Chinensis Qrandiflora. A choice, small Shrub of graceful 

 habit, producing through the entire summer and fall months white 

 tinted lilac heather-like flowers in such abundance as to completely 

 cover the plant. (See cut.) 25 cts. each; $2.50 per doz. 



Althea (Rose of Sharon). The ,\ltheas 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. 



— Atropurpurea plena. Double purple. 



— Coerulea plena. 1 )i>uble blue. 



— Duchess de Brabant. Double dark red. 



— Folia Varlegata. Leaves variegated green and white. 



— Grandiflora Superba. Double, blush white, with crimson centre. 



— Jeanne d'Arc. Double pure white. 



— Totus Albus. Fine single pure white, very desirable. 



— Violacea plena. Double rosy-lilac. 



25 cts. each. Set of 9 varieties, $2.00. 



We will supply all Shrubs priced at 25 cts. each for $2.50 per doz.; $18.00 per 100. 



(219) 



