SPRING-FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. 



413 



comes when the drastic remedy of destroying it and replanting 

 is applied. 



To bring out to the full the beauty of flowering trees and 

 shrubs, they must be dealt with as attentively as a good gardener 

 deals with an orchard. Groups of shrubs, or a shrubbery, should 

 be well considered before planting. The aim should be to create 

 as much variety as possible, both as regards the skyline of the 

 masses and the harmony of colour they will display when the 

 plants assume their adult stage of growth, and this can only be 

 done properly by those who have an intimate knowledge of the 

 material with which they have to deal. If the shrubbery is 

 intended for a screen, then thicker planting than otherwise is 

 admissible ; but if the intention of the groups is to display to 

 the fullest advantage the beauty of each shrub, then ample 

 space must be given to each, or, if planted thickly at first, timely 

 thinning out should be done. It is advisable to plant shrubs ot 

 one species in groups of three or more, for then a fuller ex- 

 pression of that species can be obtained than by the ordinary, 

 haphazard mixture, though obviously this can only be carried out 

 in gardens of considerable extent. Lawn groups of shrubs may 

 be composed of one or more species ; but unless a shrub is of an 

 elegant habit of growth — like a Weigela, for example — several 

 kinds had better be grouped together in order to make a pleasing- 

 mass. The most successful landscape gardeners have always 

 planted in this way, and in the neighbourhood of London one 

 may see excellent examples at the Crystal Palace by Sir Joseph 

 Paxton, at the Piegent's Park Botanic Garden by Mr. Marnock, 

 and in Battersea Park by Mr. Gibson, where one may see how 

 shrubs develop themselves and form beautiful groups by 

 thoughtful planting. In fact, the essence of tasteful landscape 

 gardening lies in the skilful arrangement of the flowering trees 

 and shrubs, their colours forming, so to speak, the high lights 

 of the picture, while the evergreens and other trees form its 

 body colour. 



Without attempting to enumerate the long catalogue of 

 beautiful flowering trees and shrubs with which one may plant a 

 garden in England at the present day, I shall endeavour to pass 

 in review some of the more striking kinds that are in flower now, 

 and of which I have numerous specimens before me, or those 

 that will come into bloom between now and midsummer, and 



