Art Out-of-Doors 



not blend with the undulating variety of 

 growing things ; and a flower-bed is almost 

 as artificial, as rigid in effect, as foundation- 

 courses of masonry. Of course, if the whole 

 garden is formally disposed, then the base- 

 plantations may correspond ; but such cases 

 are rare in this country, and a natural ar- 

 rangement of the grounds demands a thor- 

 oughly natural - looking garment for the 

 lower walls. Hardy shrubs are the things 

 we need to m.ake an encircling garment 

 which shall be high in some places, low in 

 others ; here dense and massive, there light 

 and graceful ; now clinging closely to the 

 walls and now^ spreading away a little, or 

 running along beyond the end of the house 

 to border a path or mask the foundations 

 of an adjacent enclosure. Shrubs give us 

 everything that is thus required, and in end- 

 less variety. 



But just in the profusion of species among 

 which he can choose lies danger for the 

 planter. When so many beautiful shrubs 

 are offered by the nurseryman, and so many 

 striking novelties, he may easily forget his 

 main purpose, think too much of the claims 



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