TWENTY-NINE 



A successlui solution of a perplexing landscape problem — masking of the house foundations. On the left, at the 

 coldest and most-exposed corner, is a group of Japanese Barberry and Virginia Creeper. Next, under the window-box 

 and awnings is Spirea Anthony Waterer. On the porch is a Climbing Rose, and in front is Retinospora obtusa and 

 other plants. On the right are several Boxwoods bordered with English Ivy. Residence of Mr. C. E. Gardiner, 

 Garden City, L. I. 



E urge the greater use of shrubs in the landscape. Not only for succession of 

 bloom, not for contrast of foliage, nor for screen, or beauty of rounded foliage masses, 

 but to help trees grow by holding the humus. Humus is decayed organic matter, 

 as leaves and stable manure. Humus makes available the insoluble plant food 

 1 in the soil, as potash and phosphoric acid. It also holds water and supplies nitrogen. 

 Humus does not form on closely clipped and neatly raked lawns. Rivalry for neatness causes 

 brown lawns and ugliness unless the trees are fed. It is starvation in the midst of plenty. 



Many Long Island country estates look unattractive, with thin, yellow trees, because they are 

 starved. Plant the trees in groups of shrubs. Buy low-priced shrubs 1 to 3 feet high, plant 2^ to 5 

 feet apart, cut back, when planted, to 4 inches, and mulch annually with four inches of manure and 

 leaves. The result is a complete ground coVer more cheaply kept than grass. If your trees are not 

 in groups of shrubs, manure them. Do iiot rake it off, dig it in. For the lawn use old compost so 

 fine it cannot be raked off. 



We grow shrubs and trees especially suitable for close planting at $5 to $20 per hundred, or 

 we will teach you how to collect wild shrubs. 



Another cause for the impoverished look of Long Island estates is the planting of damp- 

 ground trees on dry, sandy sub-soils, where they soon look sickly and drop their leaves. Nursery- 

 men are prone to grow the Poplar, Elm, Willow and damp-ground shrubs, because they propagate 

 cheaply, live with short roots, and make a big growth the first few years. We have the drought- 

 resistant trees and shrubs at low rates per thousand. 



