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 make 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 
8q 
