Close to the House 
of individual plants, and thus produce a 
confused medley instead of an harmonious, 
appropriate garment for the base of his walls. 
Here, even more, if possible, than in other 
portions of the home-grounds, appropriate- 
ness should be the first touch-stone to deter- 
mine choice. If “specimen plants” are 
wanted for their own sakes, this is the last 
place where they should be put. 
Here, if a tall shrub is planted it should 
be because a tall one is needed, not be- 
cause a particularly handsome tall one has 
been seen in a nursery or in some neigh- 
bor’s grounds. The question should not 
be whether one likes lilacs especially, but 
whether lilac-bushes can be well used in the 
general scheme. With a little care a good 
spot can be found for any special favorite ; 
or, if not, something that will win itself as 
high a place in its owner’s affections can be 
found to use instead. 
Of course an overuse of shrubs should be 
avoided. We do not want a house to look 
as though it grew in a thicket, or as though 
the cultivation of shrubs were its owner’s 
chief concern. Mass shrubs in the angles of 
81 
