CHAPTER XLIX

SHRUBS, AND HOW TO PLANT THEM

The owner of a yard, no matter how small it may be, ought to do something toward developing its possibilities. There may be room for only a shrub or two, but this is no reason why the place should be neglected. Plant what you have room for. Do what you can to make the place attractive, and the home spirit will do its share in beautifying the spot. The more attention we give the home the more we find in it to love and to work for.

Every place ought to have at least a few shrubs, because to a great extent, especially in our villages and cities, they must take the place of trees. They have a dignity which the smaller, hardy herbaceous plant does not possess.

As a general thing they grow into symmetrical shape without much pruning. Many of them have the merit of blooming quite early in the season. All that I shall make mention of in this article are hardy, and all of them can be grown with reasonable certainty of success by anyone who will follow the directions I shall give in planting and caring for them. One strong argument in favor of shrubs is, they are good for years after becoming well established.

In planting the lawn to shrubs, let me caution you to not make the mistake of putting them too close together. They are small when first put out, therefore they make but little show, and we get the im pression that a good many are needed, and we set them a few feet apart-possibly ten, but generally less-and the result is that in two or three years we have a mass

of bushes in which all individuality is lost, and when shrubs "run together" in this way, their dignity is destroyed. To guard against this almost universal mistake, we must take a look ahead. Think what the proportions of the shrub will be when it has fully developed, and plant accordingly, always keeping in mind the fact that there ought to be ample space between. If you haven't room for more than one, have one only. One good one, planted in such a manner as to display itself effectively, will afford a great deal more satisfaction than several inferior ones, such as you may make sure of having if you plant more than you have room for.

The next thing to do after getting your shrubs and deciding where they shall be planted, is to get the ground in proper shape for their reception. Some take a spade and dig a hole a foot square and about the same in depth, crowd the roots of the shrub into it, shovel in clods of the soil thrown out, tramp them down, and call the job done. This is all wrong, and the man who does it will have, as he deserves to, a miserable apology for a shrub.

In the first place, make the hole large enough to accommodate the roots without cramping. In the second place, work the soil over until there isn't a clod or lump in it, mixing in, as you do this, some old, well-rotted manure. Shrubs have to eat, like other plants, and you must feed them well if you want them to do well. Then set the shrub in the hole dug to receive it, spreading its roots out evenly and naturally. Scatter soil over them, and then, by lifting the plant gently and shaking it a little, work this soil down. among the roots. After filling in enough to cover all the roots, apply at least a pailful of water. This will settle the soil firmly about the roots. Then heap the rest of the soil about the base of the shrub.

There are so many excellent shrubs that it is a difficult matter to select the best. Among the ironclad sorts I know of nothing superior to the Lilac. It requires very little care, grows rapidly, blooms with great freedom early in the season, and is healthy and long lived. There are several double varieties on the market which deserve especial attention. If in doubt as to what to plant, decide on a Lilac and you will not regret it.

The Japan Quince is a fine shrub of low, compact habit, with glossy foliage, and intensely rich scarlet flowers, produced very early in the season. It makes an excellent hedge.

The Weigelias are favorites everywhere. They develop into large bushes, and every branch will be literally loaded down in June and July with flowers in various shades of red, rose and white.

One of the most charming shrubs I know of is the Double Flowering Plum, cataloged as Prunus triloba. It makes a bush about four feet in hight and five or six feet across, with many graceful branches which in May and June are perfect wreaths of bloom, like those of the old Flowering Almond. The flowers of this Plum are pink and white, quite double, and like miniature Roses in shape.

Of course, you will want some Roses. The Ramblers are proving hardy enough to stand our northern winters, if laid down in fall and covered well. They are beautiful things when full of flowers. To secure the best effect from them, plant several in a group.

For late blooming, Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora is perhaps our best shrub. This, like the Rambler Roses, is most effective when grouped. (Fig 70. The Flowering Currant is an excellent shrub. It is always graceful without pruning. It blooms with wonderful profusion early in the season, having

thousands of soft yellow, very fragrant flowers. In fall, its foliage turns to gold and crimson, and again the bush is as attractive as in spring.

The Daphne Cneorum is a very charming little shrub, suitable for a location near the path or house, as it never grows tall enough to get in the way. It bears clusters of bright pink flowers, which are de

lightfully fragrant. It flowers at intervals all through the season. Well deserving a place in all gardens.

The Flowering Almond has lost some of its old popularity, but none of its old merits. It is a charming little shrub, with its slender branches so thickly set with pink and white flowers that they look like wreaths.

The Spireas are most beautiful shrubs, bearing small flowers in great abundance. Like the Flowering Almond their slender branches seem wreaths of bloom.

The Syringa grows to a hight of eight or ten feet, branches freely, and becomes a most attractive shrub for a prominent location. It blooms very profusely, having white flowers with a fragrance like that of the Orange. On this account it is popularly known as Mock Orange.

The Deutzias are lovely plants: D. crenata flore pleno is a double variety, with clusters of pure white drooping flowers; D. gracilis is a more slender grower, with graceful delicate white flowers produced so freely as to almost cover the branches.

The Flowering Sumach is one of our most useful shrubs where a strong, tall grower is required. It has finely divided foliage, and its flowers of creamy white have such an airy, graceful look about them that they give one the impression of plumes; excellent for cutting, as the flowers combine charmingly with all other colors.

The Halesia, or Silver Bell, is an old favorite; it is a tall, strong-growing shrub, having pendulous, bellshaped flowers of pure white.

The Purple-leaved Berberry is an excellent shrub for use among light colored plants, on account of its rich, dark foliage. If this is planted beside of, or near, the golden-leaved Weigelia the effect is rich and striking. If you can give it a place where it will have some such flower as the yellow Hollyhock, or Goldenrod, for a background, its beautiful color will be thrown out with very pleasing effect.

We have many good native shrubs. Some of the Alders are lovely ornaments of the garden when they are planted in front of evergreens. The contrast between their brilliant red berries and the dark green of Spruce or Arbor Vitae is very fine, and gives one a thrill of pleasure when seen through falling snow, or when the ground is white,