34 THE BOOK OF THE WINTER GARDEN 



for a number of years, until, getting thin and shabby 

 with two shifts a year, they must be replaced by 

 others. Retinosporas and other bushy shrubs may be 

 cut back a bit annually to keep them small, if this is 

 desired. 



If the shrubs are grown in large pots or tubs, the 

 frequent shifting does not of course affect them at all, as 

 it is merely a matter of replunging the pots in the earth. 

 They should be repotted in the spring of every alternate 

 year ; but larger pots may not always be needed or can- 

 not be given, in which cases the roots should be shaken 

 free of a portion of the soil, and put back into fresh, at 

 the same time shortening the shoots. The pots should 

 be plunged below the rim in summer as well as winter, 

 and during warm weather will require watering. 



If portion of the stuff is to be grown in pots, that 

 portion should include those plants that do not take 

 kindly to frequent transplanting — such as hollies, 

 Elaeagnus, Osmanthus, ivies, mahonias, Cryptomeria, etc. 

 Yet most may be treated in the first mentioned way, if care 

 is taken, and this saves the cost of pots and extra water- 

 ing. Retinosporas and other small conifers are very easy 

 to deal with, and are effective, facts which account for 

 their popularity. 



Shrubs in pots may be plunged here and there between 

 the hardy plants in herbaceous borders, to relieve a bare- 

 ness very common to that portion of the garden. Her- 

 baceous borders are much improved if planted per- 

 manently with a number of good ever-leaved shrubs, 

 bringing these well to the front here and there. Shrubs 

 are especially valuable in connection with bulb-borders, 

 for planting together ; the decay of the foliage of such 

 noble plants as lilies, Eremuri, etc., does not leave a 

 desolate stretch of bare ground, as would otherwise be 

 the case. Herbaceous plants, and choice evergreen and 

 other shrubs have been too often separated. Associate 



