Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-07
SOWING Of SEED
Will BEGIN SOON
TIME Is APPROACHING WHEN EF.
FORTS WILL BE MADE TO
PLANT SHRUBEBY
TO BEAUTIFY CITY
IDEAS Given to Those Who Would
Make Ottumwa Present Pretty
Appearance Instead of
Many Barren Spots -.

= Many Barren Spots ,a
: The breaking up of winter is near
3 at hand and the people are beginning
2 to study their seed catalogues with a
+ view of ascertaining the best varieties
: OF seeds and shrubbery for this eli
j mate. The following information along
city beautiful lines written by James
H. Spencer Of Dubuque will prove in
: teresting to those who would make
: beauty spots out of some of Ottum-
was barren places:
Native and Other Shrubs. .,
There are a number of native
shrubs that are excellent for the lawn
and none are better than the common
J elder and the native sumac Both of
} these shrubs can be grown on the
lawn in large masses.
! The elder is rather brittle and
should be planted in protected loca-
ton in the side or back yard.
The so-called bridal wreath is the
most popular shrub grown at the pres
ent time. 1t thrives in any location ex.
cept dense shade, and may even be
satisfactorily grown on the north side
of the house. No shrub produces such
a profusion of bloom. In ordering this
shrub, it is always necessary to ask
for Spirea Van Houttei
The Japanese barberry (berberis
thunbergiD is the best shrub grown
for low hedge, and it is equally good
as a specimen plant on the lawn. It's
foliage remains beautiful from early
spring until late fall, and it's red ber-
ries remain on the bush through the
winter. 1t is best to plant bushes two
feet tall.
The deutzia is splendid small
shrub: few others, in fact, have their
delicate beauty. They are partial to
partly shaded locations. Deutzia Gre
nata is one of the best and it's flowers
are white.
! Old Favorites Are Best.
None of the more recently intro
duced shrubs are better than some
of the old favorites. The Persian
lilac. for instance, is magnificent for |
the lawn. 1t seldom becomes insight !
~ from mildew 1t blooms much |
more freely than the common lilac.
Good lilacs on their own roots are
considered among the choicest shrubs
that can be purchased; budded stock
is much less desirable. ......
Nothing will ever replace the mock
orange, the bush honey-suck1e, the
Hydrangea. the SNOWFALL, the snow
berry. the Weigela, and few othors.
All of them are easily grown, except
the hydrangea, which, when young,
must be thoroughly soaked during dry
periods. ..,
Adapted to Climate.
A large shrub of great excellence for
this climate that is less known than l.
those that have been mentioned is
the high bush cranberry (viburnum
ocullus) The foliage is beautiful and
dense. and the fruit very attractive
Another magnificent and little
known shrub is tamarix amurensis. 1t
also grows into large shrub, and has
delicate foliage and flowers 1t is a
splendid shrub for embankments
When planting, it is best to cut it
back within six or eight inches of the
ground Tamarix amurensis should
never be planted in the fall.
Red-barked dogwood and ruyosa
roses are two other hardy shrubs of
great merit for this climate. The
former is beautiful in winter, while
the later does not require the atten-
ton of ordinary roses. The flowers {
are single.
Tender Shrubs.
No shrubs should be purchased just
because the nurseryman advertises
it as hardy The list of really hardy
plants is rather small and does not
include one-half of those that can be
grown in the east and
south. For instance, the althea is too
tender for this climate. 1t will stand .
some of our winters, but it is almost
certain to be killed before many sea-
sons. The same is true Of California
prevet 1t is far better to buy varieties
Of well known hardness.
A Few Hints.
Under ordinary conditions the best .
results will follow when the shrubs,
are grouped along the borders Of the
lawn, in bends or curves of roads and i
walks, or massed in the background.
The lawn should not be cut to pieces
by shrub planting. ~ 80
Shrubs that bear flowers in the
spring. like the bridal wreath, should 4
not be pruned until after they bloom.
Shrubs like the hydrangea, which
blooms in the late summer, should be
pruned in early March. Varieties 1
like the lilac, bush honeysuckle,
spirea, and almost all others. should ;
be pruned only by cutting out dead
wood. It is mistake to trim back
the head, except when they are; \
planted. The hydrangea is an excep- 1
ton, it may be cut back sharply each
spring s...
Shrubs should be planted as soon as
the soil can be worked. G
Have Champion Mixer at Ames. =
Ames March G-The Iowa cnlleea q