The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-07
Flora! Department.
- CAPT G ?. pE~Sos

NoTE.-We invite attention 10 Capt.
benson advertisement ia anoth.r ,sl-
umn. lie knows "a hat j. most ds-la-
bic Tor y. &. floral gardens. and -
commend his NURSERIES "a uar readers
En-. +. s.. NJ
EEINe >IIkU~
The season has been % very favor
able for outdoor work in gardening.
that MANY are doubtless alrsadv pre-
pairing 10 plant, v no design to Improve
their hom-s this spring. The
OF our friends who are no; ALREADY
familiar with the varieties q. orna-
mental plants adapted Ia our climate.
may b. prodtably called to the pro
priety Il including a liberal selection
OF The Towering shrubs. III LAYING out
ne" plans. Or improving those already
under cultivation.
REA~O FOR GRowI>0 THE9
First ~ ali. they are emin.ntly ap-
propriate and beautiful. II anythin.
be desired beyond mere seclusion anu
shade, II Is = mistake ~ I'LL a small
plot with trees. In = FEW Nears the
dwelling Is shut out 81 view. and the
dense shade prevents the growth of
grass, or of flowers, while II the trees
are near each other, they crowd into
unslghtly shape. The better plan II To
vary the grounds with strong groups
of shrubs, giving you grace OF form.
variety in color and style. and in no
wise preventing the growth Of gras. or
Towering bedding plants on plots be
ween They Till a background well.
or group at the side.
But To most persons they are not the
less desirable because they are per
fectly hardy, living with the least
amount of attention, and almost none
at all, transplanted with ease, and
growing vigorously and freely. The
low price OF most sorts also brings
them within the reach of every one.
ABOUT IRE HUNDRED VARIETIES
are now used of value TO us, from
which may be again selected seventy
five as most choice. These range in
height from the eighteen or twenty
feet of the Venetian smoke tree, or
rhus centinus, and the taller aitheas,
down to sperea callosa alba, barely a
foot high, or to jasminum m~edihorum.
trailing on the ground. They furnish
us with bloom from January until
November, and in endless variety OF
shades OF color, from the pure white
of the double spirea reevsii to the deep
purple of buddleya %lindleyana, the
glazing red Of weigela groennewegenii,
the gay yellow of the f%orsvthias. and
the modest brown of calycanthus. The
last named, sometimes called sweet
shrub, we have known people to ina
CINE as the whole of the species, when
the term ''fiowering shrubs" was used.
On the contrary, it is one Of the most
insignificant, with little to recommend
it except the perfume.
WHEN tt MOVE HRUBs
At n time during the winter and
early spring transplanting rarely affects
the bloom eve for the current season.
SO that plants of four or five feet may
be easily set now, and be covered with
their lovely sheets of bloom in April
or May, or of the fall sorts, from July
to October. They will live even in
poor soil, but respond literally TO a
good supply of food. Most shrubs feed
readily on of any description,
well rotted barnyard manure being
best. a moderate trimming, when set,
will be of advantage. Our climate is
SO well adapted to them, that in North
Carolina we grow those of the North,
and very many of the sorts of the ex-
treme South with equal facility.
VARIETIES.
1t may be serviceable I 0 the reader
to describe briefly the leading flower
ing shrubs, which we will do in alpha
betical order.
-icdcia Rosed is a large growing but
irregular plant in shape, chiefly useful
IN planting heavy masses of shrubberv
III the background. Its flowers are
large, pink, and pea-shaped, and it is
one of the old-fashioned favorites of a
past generation. Its chief fault is the
tendency, when well established, TO
throw up suckers from the extreInities
of the spreading roof.
imygdaius, or dwarf double almond
in two sorts, pink and white, Is toe
well known to require description. 1t
is an early bloomer and quite attrac-
tive There..are new handsome varie-
ties of Towering almond, with fine
large double white blossoms.
-Aifhea Einter is one of the most
valuable shrubs on o of its ready