The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-04-07


den planning with respect to the
plants themselves is the habit of the
individual plant subject. A great deal
~of the success of a garden depends up
on placing plants where they will
blend properly with each other. BY
habit is meant not merely shape or
size or general appearance. Much de-
rends upon the special characters
which distinguish one variety or spec
.ses of plant from another. The most
conspicuous ways in which these char
lacters are exhibited are in the method
of branching, the form and texture Of
Sthe foliage, the shape of the flower
head. the denseness or sparseness OF
the flowers, the color of the foliage.
the time of Towering with respect TO
leaf produftion, the character and
color of the bark (Which may be con
autumn, winter and early spring., the
appearance or non-appearance of col
ered fruits which ripen and fall during
summer or autumn or remain attached
TO the plants during the winter.
Trees and shrubs which produce
their flowers before the leaves-for in,
stance. Judas tree, spice bush, Japan
-ese ounce, golden bell, daphne, etc. So
are most valuable for early spring use
because of their brilliant colors; but
they need the support of evergreens OF
OF other plants which produce foliage
very early in the spring so as to make
an effective background for the flowers
TO contrast with. A similar remark ap
plies TO those trees and shrubs which
have conspicuous bark or fruits which
viii attract the eye during the leaf
less months; for instance, white birch
sycamore or buttonwood, the red bark
90 dogwoods, the yellow barked will
lows, barberries and the varieties Of
aogwood that bear scarlet fruits. AL
these shoud have backgrounds of ever
greens or of some other dark object
so the colors will show off to advan
tage.
Il is highly desirable that garden
plants, should be allowed freedom oi
growth 10 develop their Individual
character. No plants should be grown
merely TO produce blossoms; at least
so far as the general garden picture
se oil in franHAVn s,I
growth is not meant that no pruning
should be done, but pruning to force
tire plant into artificial shapes SHOULD
be avoided as will tend to the welfare
of the plant itself without forcing ar
tihciality.
That border in which the plants are
allowed TO develop most naturally il
tine one which will give the greatest
pleasure to the eye and to the esthet
1c taste. In this the rule should be
40 put the taller more robust, and leg
KY" plants In the rear, so as to en-
nance the picturesque characters Ji
the planting. However, this rule
should not be followed too rigidly be
cause II may tend TO stiffness. u
should he broken here and there, eth
er by reversal or by extending tho
taller plants toward the foreground
Occasional bald clumps OF flowers
brought well to the front especially
IL at irregular intervals, will give va
Tlety and character to the border
Next 10 allowing plants to grow ma
aurally, that is, without shearing or un
due chipping, is the point OF allowing
each specimen TO have ample room IN
which TO develop without the encroach
SDent OF its neighbors. This means that
the gardener must know the habit OF
each species and variety and plan io
allow enough space around each speci
alen 80 that development will be nor
NAL and therefore beautiful. Tall
plants may be separated by those
which grow shorter. Thus each will
have ample space In which to develop.
A special application OF this rule
may ot oSti III sum hpnDlldtlolb do
asparagus placed in front of holly
hooks. The unsightly stem of the
hollyhocks will be concealed by the
aacy lingerie of the asparagus When
the holiycocks have reached and pas,
-sod their prime. they may be removed
without detracting in any way from
the beauty of the asparagus. Many
@imilnr combinations can be made
with other plants Therefore, II may
Se taken as general rule that plants
shich throw up long. narrow spikes
~of flower should be accompanied by
-ethers which have a tufted habit.
Plants which have glaucons, silvery
or bronzy foliage should be placed
,s'here they Will reinforce other plants
whose flowers best contrast with such
-pecuiiar characters OF foliage. Plants
sEucb as acanthus, paulownia and cas-
uor oil bean. which have bold foliage,
Iced for their support plants which
have more or less lacy foliage; for in
stance alianthus greyillea and similar