SHRUBBERY. 



269 



SHRUBBERY. 



same number of plants of one species 

 would be planted, the only difference 

 being that they would : be placed in 

 different parts of the plantation. In 

 a small shrubbery perhaps not more 

 than one or two plants of a species or 

 variety might be required; more 

 especially if the object was to include 

 as extensive a collection in the shrub- 

 bery, as could conveniently be pro- 

 cured. There are almost a thousand 

 trees and shrubs, exclusive of roses, 

 in British nurseries, which may be 

 purchased at moderate prices ; and all 

 these may be used in a shrubbery 

 which contains no more ground than 

 a single acre. Supposing that only 

 one plant of a kind is planted, and 

 supposing that each genus or natural 

 order is kept by itself, every part of 

 the surface of the plantation will be 

 different from that which precedes or 

 follows it ; and the greatest variety 

 which the case admits of will be pro- 

 duced. So many plants planted on 

 one acre, will, however, soon cover 

 the soil ; and therefore in three years 

 after planting, it will be necessary to 

 begin to thin them. The thinning in 

 this case ought to be directed to the 

 removal of the commoner and coarser 

 kinds. The most complete shrub- 

 bery that can be imagined is one 

 which should contain all the larger 

 trees distributed along it as a back- 

 ground, with all the smaller trees in 

 front ; next to these should be the 

 larger shrubs, then the smaller shrubs, 

 next the roses, and finally in the front, 

 apart from the roses, should be the 

 herbaceous plants; thus forming a 

 splendid bank of vegetation on level 

 ground. To prevent such an ar- 

 rangement from becoming monoto- 

 nous, it is essentially necessary that 

 it should be combined with the 

 natural system of relationship be- 

 tween the kinds ; and this ought to 

 be carried out in the roses, and in the 

 herbaceous plants, no less than in the 



shrubs and trees. To solve this pro- 

 blem so as to carry the idea into exe- 

 cution, is one of the nicest points for 

 an amateur landscape gardener to 

 attempt. 



All shrubberies whatever, how- 

 ever scientifically they may be planted 

 and thinned out afterwards, will ulti- 

 mately become old, and entirely lose 

 the character which they had during 

 the first eight or ten years after plant- 

 ing. Hence, in small places, which 

 j have been planted a certain number 

 of years, it is impossible to have a 

 ' shrubbery such as is here described, 

 j without removing the large trees and 

 ; shrubs already existing ; and this 

 : must necessarily depend on the taste 

 \ of the proprietor, and whether a col- 

 : lection of young trees and shrubs, 

 which have a bare and new look, 

 j but which will be continually in- 

 J creasing in beauty and magnitude, 

 j be preferred to a few full-grown 

 plants which are already in a state of 

 perfection, and which have an air of 

 grandeur and repose. 



When a shrubbery is planted, and 

 for some years afterwards, the ground 

 should be kept clear of weeds by 

 hoeing or slight digging; and the 

 shrubbery should be separated from 

 the walk by a verge of turf or of box. 

 When the opposite side of the walk 

 is turf, such as a lawn, then the side 

 next the shrubs must have a verge of 

 turf also ; but where a walk passes 

 through the middle of a shrubbery, 

 box edgings may be used on both 

 sides. In general, however, a grass 

 verge is greatly to be preferred, as 

 being more appropriate to a scene con- 

 nected with the lawn ; and as not 

 calling up ideas of a kitchen garden, 

 or of a small flower-garden, where the 

 beds are usually edged with box. What- 

 ever may be the width of the gravel 

 walk, the grass verge should not be 

 narrower than two feet, because less 

 than that width cannot always be 



