SOME BEAUTIFUL SHKUBS. 



353 



It is but a decade or two since the occupants of our shrubberies and 

 ornamental grounds consisted chiefly of such evergreens as the holly, 

 yew, laurel and privet, together with a certain number of conifers, 

 possibly not all very appropriate to the locality nor well suited to the 

 climate. 



Both evergreens and conifers are beautiful and necessary, but they 

 should never be so largely employed as to make it practically impos- 

 sible to utilize deciduous shrubs and trees, for it is widely recognized 

 that the most pleasing results are obtained from the latter. I do not for 

 one moment wish to depreciate the value of conifers and the like, as I 

 know their worth if planted with discrimination, but it is indisputable 

 that to produce the most satisfactory results both broad-leaved and 

 narrow-leaved trees, evergreen and deciduous, must be blended. I desire 

 to-day to urge a more extended use of deciduous shrubs, for the host of 

 material at our disposal renders the beautifying of our gardens at all 

 seasons an easy matter, and this applies particularly to the winter and 

 early spring months, with which I hope to deal more fully later on. 



It is not possible in one lecture to deal exhaustively with all that 

 appertains to flowering shrubs and their successful culture, but I hope to 

 touch upon some of the more important points, and, while not attempting a 

 regular catalogue, to enumerate many of the most effective and desirable 

 of them for general use in gardens. 



Planting. 



Success or failure depends so largely upon how and when flowering 

 shrubs are planted that my experience in respect to this may be of value to 

 some. Although " how " and " when " are to be regarded as of paramount 

 importance, it must of course be understood that the weather following 

 the operation, and differences of locality and soil, are all factors to be 

 considered ; but as nearly all the shrubs I shall mention belong to the 

 deciduous section, planting may be safely accomplished at the times 

 mentioned later in this paper. The first necessity is that the ground 

 should be well drained, for very few shrubs will succeed where the soil is 

 water-logged ; then it should be thoroughly broken up to a depth 

 of at least 2 feet, and if very heavy in character some suitable lightening 

 material should be incorporated, nothing being better for this purpose 

 than well decayed leaf-mould and coarse road sand. On the other hand, 

 should it be light in texture, a good heavy loam is the most desirable 

 addition. All ornamental shrubs will succeed either in loamy or peaty 

 soil, and it is quite unnecessary to prepare elaborate mixtures for their 

 reception. The trenching in of manure is not desirable, unless the 

 ground is deeply worked and the manure is placed right at the bottom, 

 for young roots are injured by coming in contact with manure at an 

 early period after planting and before a healthy natural action in them is 

 established. 



Deciduous shrubs may be planted at any time from the fall of the 

 leaf till the buds burst in spring, except when the ground is in a frozen 

 condition or in a cold or wet state, but I am well aware that planting 

 often has to be done at the most convenient time. If I could foresee 

 that we should have a mild, open winter, followed by a dry spring, I 



vol. xxxv. B B 



