BETTER FRUIT 



Photo by Horticultural Department New Hampshire Agricultural College 

 Figure 3— IN PLANTING ABOUT THE HOME SEE THAT THE SHRUBS ARE ARRANGED 



FOR PLEASING. EFFECTS 



bery is more beautiful than that which 

 the planter finds growing wild in his 

 vicinity. First, they are easy to grow 

 and recjuire very little attention. Second, 

 each section of our country should 

 develop in harmony with the natural sur- 

 roundings. Third, the planter is taking 

 very little risk of failure when these 

 shrubs are properly transferred from 

 their native habitat and grouped about 

 the premises under similar soil and 

 climatic conditions. If the native vege- 

 tation is freely planted they readily make 

 the place a part of the region in which 

 we live. It is not intended that the 

 planter limit himself entirely to native 

 shrubbery, but if a certain section seems 

 to require native growth by all means 

 use it, and the ef¥ect will be far more 

 pleasing than if the most expensive 

 shrubs had been placed instead. The 

 Western coast is rich in native flora of 

 many kinds. 



In all shrubbery planting one should 

 endeavor to secure varieties which fur- 

 nish the greatest wealth of foliage, blos- 

 soms and color throughout the year. It 

 is not difficult for the plant lover to go 

 into the nearby woods and secure those 

 shrubs which appeal to him. The Wild 



Figure \—.\ GLIMPSE L\T(J A CITY PARK 

 Shrubs have an important part to play here 



Currant (Rubus sanguineum), which 

 blossoms so early in spring and has a 

 very delicate perfume, should be exten- 

 sively used in shrubbery planting. The 

 Western Mock Orange (Philidelphus 

 coronarius) is another very charming 

 shrub that gives pleasing effects in blos- 

 som and perfume in early spring. There 

 are many others. These two have been 

 cited by the writer only to show what 

 really choice shrubs we have at our 

 command, but for the most part are not 

 taking advantage of the full charms 



Figure 5— BERBERIS VULGARIS 

 Corners about buildings are sometimes difficult to 

 manage. Try a pleasing shrub 



which they offer. Each reader can 

 readily make up a long list of native 

 shrubs which especially appeal to him 

 and can be secured at very small expense. 



Of the shrubs that are worthy of plant- 

 ing freely in the West, and can be secured 

 from practically any nursery, the follow- 

 ing list is preferred: A^iburnum Lantana, 

 Viburnum Opulus, Viburnum Plicatum 

 (snowball and varieties), Prunus, includ 

 ing flowering peaches, small growing 

 double flowering cherries, plums, almonds, 

 etc.; Lonicera Fragrantissima and Loni- 

 cera Standishii (honeysuckle), Chionan- 

 thus Virginica (white fringe, purple 

 fringe) and others of this class; Spiraea 



P(ig(^ 33 



Thunbergi, Spiraea Arguta and Spiraea 

 Prunifolia (bridal wreath) and several 

 other early flowering varieties; Deutzia 

 (many varieties). Common Barberry 

 (berberis vulgaris), Privets, Dogwoods, 

 Weiglas, Hazels, Sumac, Forsythia, Viri- 

 disima (golden bell), Cydonia Japonica 

 (Japan quince), Syringa Vulgaris (com- 

 mon lilac). (Figure 7.) These shrubs are 

 all adapted for general purpose planting, 

 and suitable for the main effects if so 

 desired. From this list the planter will 

 find several which especially appeal to 

 him for specimen planting. In all speci- 

 men planting, no matter what shrub is 

 used, they should be set where they will 

 show their individuality to best advan- 

 tage, yet to harmonize with the sur- 

 roundings under which they are placed. 

 This will make up a finished effect. For 

 example, the Hydrangea is a fine special 

 purpose specimen, but should be planted 

 with a background of dark colored 

 shrubs or trees. They should not be 

 scattered here and there, as so commonly 

 noticed. 



The greatest satisfaction in shrubs, 

 after all, lies in their healthfulness and 

 vigor. To secure this they should be 



Figure 6— GOLDEN BELL 

 'Graceful shrubbery gives pleasing effects when 

 planted at the base of large buildings 



carefully handled at all times. They 

 respond to good treatment just as readib' 

 as any of our plants which we Western 

 people are inclined to prize more highly — 

 for example, the apple. Make the ground 

 rich before they are planted. If they are 

 already planted see that they annually 

 have a good dressing of fine manure in 

 the fall. If applied in spring see that 

 it is well incorporated. A little fertilizer 

 about shrubs is readily noticed. In 

 making a shrubbery border see that it is 

 plowed or spaded as deep as possible 

 with an abundance of good humus mak- 

 ing material turned under, such as old 



Figure 7— SYRINGA VULGARIS 

 This shrub gives a variety of pleasure in early 

 spring with its blossoms and perfume 



