Evening star., 1936-07-11

Whatever one may think OF the new
Government buildings, and there is 8
legitimate difference of opinion here as
elsewhere, it cannot but be said that the
buildings, as q group, are composed on q
dignified, some think TOO dignified, plane
There are no towers, peaks, gee-gdwS Of
any sort. Crnamentation is gone, the
building as a whole being its own best
ornament. There Is restraint in
treatment which goes with severe lines
of box and other severe shrubbery. This
idea is even being carried into our parks.
The common althea or rose of Sharon,
would fit into this scene, If the bushes
were kept trimmed back severely.
This often is done. Years ago the
slthea hedge was regarded as one Of the
best. In full sunlight the bushes lose
their leaves early in the Fall. but in part
shade they hold them as long as any
shrub, or Just a bit longer.
The one fault of the shrub is that
its leaves are very late in the Spring in
coming out, but this Is not a serious
fault, after all, since the branches and
boughs have picturesque habit Of
growth.
1t is an excellent thing to look at
plant materials from all standpoints, not
just from that OF foliage alone, or from
that OF blossom alone.
Shrubby material is midway between
the annual and perennial flowers and
the trees.
There is some interlapping, of course
Lilacs often grow to be small trees. The
for one Of them to reach IS feet, even
20 feet.
Most of the popular shrubs, however,
range from or feet to 10 TO II feet
in height. 1t is obvious that those in
the latter range are not suited to front
positions. but do better in the rear.
The althea is a background plant of
the first dimensions. Along the rear of
a garden it gives height, that component
so often left out Of the average backyard.
1t does well along the sides of a garden.
II not too far front, and even there, II
planted TO serve as a screen. 1t makes
a remarkably effective screening mate
rial which is not too heavy. but which
serves the purpose well.
The hybridizers have worked on this
shrub with excellent results.
There Is one form which has q double
flower. something resembling a rose. of
deep maroon color. While it thus loses
the distinctive five-petal flower so char
acteristic, and which makes the children
love the bush, it gains in novelty. Those
acquainted only with the old forms often
do not know what the shrub is. the
flower is so different. Such an achieve
ment is always welcome in standard
things. The old forms are always avail
able, If one prefers them, but the new
are at hand, TOO, for variety's sake. Con-
slider the lilacs. II you honestly like the
old-fashioned purple and white forms
best have them by all means; still, there
are scores of new varieties. in the So
called French hybrid lilacS, which are
lovely beyond compare at bloSSoming
time
The althea Is the shrub OF country
towns, so that many of the former resi-
dents of these places so typical of Amer
ica find it makes them feel more at
home when they come to the big cities
if they plant a few altheas and let them
grow up with them.
They are of easy culture. but do best
if set out as early as possible in March.
The bush put in the ground late seldom
planted specimens thrive like few other
shrubs 1t seeds itself and the seedlings
are easy to handle but should be per-
mitted to grow at least a year before
being tranSDlanted