Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1855-03-17
From the National Magazine.
A Talk about Shrubbery and Vines.
TcoNCLUDED.1

Talk about Shrubbery and Vines.
/ [coNcuuDEp.]
Then you can havUkhe common waxber-
~, with its white clusters of fruit, the
syringe or mock orange, with its abundant
white blossoms and far smelling odors, and
the Missouri currant, with its yellow flowers
and delicate perfume. There are some
twenty varieties, enough for the largest yard,
and yet most Of them can find Inappropriate
place within very small space. Some may
stand singly, some in clusters, some in hedg-
rows, and some will form screens to hide an
unsightly object; and they will at all times af-
ford beautiful flowers, cool and graceful
leaves or fruits, and pleasing and admirable
forms to crafty the eyes.
We should by no means omit the roses
SO lovely, so various, so queenIy, 50 easily
cultivated, and so fragrant. The white,
colors, in all shapes, they dazzle the eyes
of our fancy, and so bewitch our fin
gers, that we cannot write about them.
Who does not love them, AMI who dares to
keep possession of single square rod of
ground for year, and neglect to cultivate
these queens of beauty? If there lives such
a one on this earth, we cannot raal:y; hope to
meet him in heaven, for assuredly he will
never enter that world of beauty, unless his
nature be completely changed Gin the hour
and article of DEATH" At ali events we
would by no means take his chance for both
this world and the next, for all the gold CAL
ifornia ever held.
/ The beauty of shrubhery is much enhanc-
ed by the manner in which 1t is planted. Let
it be planted in a wide border with indenta-
tons, where the grass shall creep in among
it, and form hooks Of emerald verdure-and
let the several varieties be so arranged and
mingled, that the shor. shall stand nearer the
walks, and that the leaves and blossoms of
each plant shall be relieved and set off by
the diverse shades of color near them, while
they themselves also serve to increase the
beauty Of the others. A great amount
of taste may be displayed in the selection
and arrang ement Of these plants and others
we might name; but study on this point, as
we'll as thinking and conversation, will profit
our readers more than reading, especially
such read ng as our desultory article.
The collecting, planting, and caring for
a dozen varieties of these shrubs, will
bring to a family an untold amount of
pleasure, and the cost need tie nothing OF
next to nothing. ANY family will give you
a root of lilac or Towering almond, slip of
rose or Japan pear; a few seeds of the bush
honeysuckles, or straw berry shrub; tie Vi
burnum, or the althea; or a sprig of box, or
a shoot of the spirea; and summer will not
more surely come, than these will grow with
care, aand blossom forth most refreshing
beauty. Give them winter dressing of
good manure; see that the grass does not
grow directly among their roots. and kill off
whatever insects attempt to plumber their TO-
liage; and all the rest Of your business with
them will be an ample enjoyment of their
glories and Projections.
But home needs the adornment of vines
and creepers, as well as foreground of
shrubs. 1t should be empowered with roses
and jessamines, and every spring and sum-
mer should find, all over it places on which
to hang beauty and glory. These are to a
home what graceful ringlets and glossy curls
are to the comely features ola woman. And
these, whatever grave theological doctors
may say in condemnation Of them, are as
necessary to beauty as clouds are to per-
feet summer sky. For our part we cannot
Imagine lovely cottage home, around which
vines do not bloom and riot In luxuriant glo-
ry. city mansion, or a royal palace, must
be seen and admired for the beauty 1t shows
in its lines and angles; in its pillars, its cap
itals, architraves, balustrades and cornices.
1t must be naked, in order to show each and
all these in their perfection. But home
like cottage must be like the sky under which
it stands, changing every day and every sea-
son. Sprino should embower it with the
freshest OF bursting buds and sprouting TO-
liage; early summer should crown it with the
sweetest of party -colored blossoms. and la
ter heat should show upon it the golden leaf
and the ripening fruit; while autumn and
winter should cloth it with rainbow dyes, and
strip it, as they strip the oak, like wrestler
to contend with the northern blasts. Morn
ing should find places upon it to deposite her
diamond dew drops, to drink the suns fire,
and transmute themselves into a thousand
gems; noontide should find spots on which
to hang cooling shadows and brilliant masses
of sunlight; and evening should find around
it, odorous cells, from which her zcphyrs may
gather Sabean perfumes, to scatter in every
apartment, and send abroad over all the
landscape.
Let us anticipate one or two objections
made to vines by our very unitarian coun
trymen, or these will impede US at every step
of our further progress 1t is said that these
by collecting and retaining the moisture of
dew and rain. will rot the covering and cause
it to decay. This objection forgets that the
shade of their foliage operates quite as much
to protect the wood from cracking and
and shrinking in the heat of the sun. Be-
sides, they serve to ward off the beating of
sleet aid rain, and save much of its wear.
Another says, that they attract insects; net
if well cared for. But they do afford ref
uge for many bird'o nest, and the parents
in these will more than destroy all the insects
sshe vines will attract. and will carry If
whole armies of bugs and worms to pay for
their shelter. Again one says that the vines
vii, ohstruct the light ana hinder the ven'il-