Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-05-11
The Flower Garden.


NNHN
Every lover Of flowers wants at least
dozen shrubs in the garden, or rather in tho
"ffont yard'
l began to select my shrubs in tho same
way that began 10 select flowers for the
garden bcds--by reading n catalogue, aud
marking those which seemed most desirable.
When | had gone through the list l had
four times as many marked as | could pos
sbly use, so | cut down the number retain.
ing those which had the most attractive des-
criptions attacked. These l cent for, and
the result was, that. as | ordered kinds
had never seen and knew nothing about, half
Of them died the following winter. Some
were too tender, others required different
care from those | was acquainted with.
learned to select those kinds you know
something about, unless you could feel sure,
from the recommendations of some friend,
that new varieties described were hardy aud
not too particular as regards treatment. Cat
alogues are gotten up for the express purpose
Of selling plants, aud we cannot always feel
sure that a plant called hardy will prove
20 be so in our northern states, or that a
plant which is said to be easily managed
can be successfully managed by the average
amateur gardener. What it is easy for a
professional gardener to do, is often quite
beyond the skill Of the amateur.
From that time to the present, have Kept
on sending for shrubs, and those now have
are illustrative of the "survival-of. .fittest "
theory. From the number grown 10 my
gardens, requiring only ordinary care, aud
all perfectly hardy, and all equally satisfac-
tory, will give list Of dozen.
One Of the very best is the old Lilac. II
can be grown as a shrub, or as small tree
II is so profuse in Towering, SO fragrant and
so beautiful, and has such way Of being
cheerful and happy through all kinds Of abuse
that if were to DO asked to recommend one
shrub3for general use | think it would be
this. always cut away the fower-bunches
when they fade, and allow no seeds to form
10 this way, l am sure Of profuse bloom every
season.
The Flowering Almond is another favorite
1t needs to be laid upon the ground and held
there by sods Of earth, through the winter
to blossom well the next season, but il will
do finely without this treatment.
The Towering Sumach is fine shrub, and
has feathery grace no others lay claim to-
Its worst fault is the same as the Lilac's il
suckers so freely that it encroaches upon sur.
rounding territory, but the use Of the scythe
two or three times a month during the sum.
mer will remedy this.
Spirea Crenata is very beautiful, as is 8
Prunifola. A well grown clump of these
shrubs is always admired when they are in
blossom, and they require so little care that
any one can grow them we'll.
Deitzia Crenata and d. Forepleno should
never be overlooked. d. Gracilis is rather
tender in our long winters, when not pro
tected by covering of pine boughs, but the
other two will hold their own bravely.
Honeysuckles, though not properly shrubs
can be grown as such, by cutting them il
we'll, for the first year or two, and they arc
remarkably beautiful for single specimens il
the ground, and as they have the merit o.
blossoming more or less all summer, l would
advise every one to try one.
| Forsythias are very neat plants, aud theil
yellow bells give tone and brilliancy to the
other shrubs which is not brought out fully
without a touch of yellow. II you have
never noticed this fact when you make bou
quets, next summer, add one yellow flower
aud sec how it brightens and glori6es the
whole mass Of bloom. 1t has the effect o.
sunshine. But very little of this color il
enough, and more than little, spoils it all
Daphne Creonum is ow-growing, ever
green shrub, Towering at intervals through
out the summer. Its flowers are bright pink
borne 10 clusters, and are very fragrant. L
is net generally cultivated, but well deserves
to be. 1t forms dense, spreading clump
and should be set in some position where i
can be seen from the house or path.
Pyrus Japonica has scarlet flowers, is very
early, and extremely hardy.
The Snowfall is to well known to requr,
anything more than mention here. 1t de
serves place in every garden.
The Wigelia is also well know, and n,
collection should be without it.
The twelfth plant should be a wild one
the old white Elder, if we're making tn
selection for myself | have one that
pulled up by an old pasture fence, and wher
it is covered with its delicate white Aowe
10 June, nothing in the whole garden is finer
or receives more admiration. l would no
exchange it for a dozen Of the new shrub
from Japan. Nor would others, if they ha,
to buy it at a good round price as foreigl
novelty. Give it trial, and you will no
give it up.-Cor. Farmers Journal.