52 THE FLORIST AND 
well now to forecast what alterations are needed, that the work may go along 
in good earnest, when the winter's severity milds. It is not the mere 
crowding together of a lot of bushes of various kinds, that gives a satisfactory 
result in the immediate vicinity of a dwelling; such does well enough in the 
tangled copse or the natural wood, but here we want an improved view, a 
softening down, that all may be in complete keeping with art and skill; and 
in order to produce such an effect, each subject, whether it stands alone on 
the lawn, or becomes a counterpart in the shrubbery, ought to have room 
enough to form a natural outline. Let each occupy its own place and 
position, have the tall growers in the back ground, that the smaller ones 
may show to advantage, and do not plant any of them so near to the walk 
as to interfere with the general character, or be in the way of every lady's 
dress skirt as she travels along, or glides around the inclined curve. 
It is quite lamentable, to see the many examples all over the country, 
where the most beautiful shrubs and trees are rendered uninviting, and even 
at times become an eye-sore, simply from the want of attention, at first 
planting, to- their respective habits, modes of growth, and the height they 
will eventually attain. Frequently is it the case, that a large timber tree 
■of the most symmetrical growth, is placed so near the house, that its outline 
is nowhere to be seen, excepting at the outside of the premises, and even 
then, it is only distinguished by stretching its neck, like a drowning man to 
get a little air ; while the low growing shrub is either smothered along side 
of it, or removed to the outside boundary, and if you would see anything 
particularly interesting in either, you must go to the extremes of or beyond 
the limits of your own property. It was but the other day that I was in 
the garden of a gentleman, who has very praiseworthily kept up with the 
new and fine introductions, in the way of hardy shrubs and trees, but who 
has fallen into the common mistake of planting indiscriminately, and crowding 
the greater portion near to the house, for the purpose of rendering them 
more conspicuous. Now what is the consequence? Little else can be seen but 
a peep up, and through the centres ; instead of the vision resting upon the 
graceful or picturesque outlines, or the elegant flowers, you look upon a 
multitude of half decayed branches, and have to be contented with worse 
than a stare at vacancy. Now on the same place is a very extensive lawn, 
and some ugly features outside the premises that are exposed to view, and 
which by a judicious formation of belts or clumps might have been hid by 
these same subjects ; yet there are the nuisances, only shut out by the 
exclusiveness of this regiment of upright poles and cross branches, and 
which prohibit the inmates of the house from all pleasure of seeing the 
