eties).--The handsome foliage
of the Japanese Maples forms their chief charm. When grown under glass
they are very beautiful, the leaves varying greatly both in colour and
shape; some almost plain, others deeply cut and almost fringe-like.

CHAPTER XXXIV

SHRUB GROUPS FOR WINTER AND SUMMER EFFECT

In the gardens of Lord Aldenham at Elstree an interesting feature is the
grouping of shrubs for summer and winter effect, and some valuable
notes, contributed to the _Garden_ on this subject, may be helpful to
those desirous of getting the best results from both tree and shrub:--

The grouping of suitable subjects, either in the pleasure-ground proper,
on the margin of wood, lake, and stream, and especially so in the
half-wild garden, when carefully carried out, has such a good effect at
all seasons that it is difficult to understand why it is not more
generally done, for only when massed together is it possible to see the
true beauty of many of the commoner hardy shrubs. For some years this
way of planting has been practised at Elstree to a considerable extent,
and the following experience may be helpful to others.

The chief desire here has been to create autumn and winter effect, and
Nature has been of slight assistance to the planter, as the land is not
undulating but generally flat and uninteresting, consequently much
thought and attention have been devoted to attaining the desired object.
No two shrubs grown either for the beauty of their leaves or bark
should be mixed together; the display is more pleasurable when they are
kept apart.

Having determined on the sites to be planted, use white stakes for
marking the outline, and plant boldly. The ground should be thoroughly
trenched, and poor land well enriched with farmyard manure, and the
planting proceeded with either in spring or early autumn. This planting
will apply to dwarf-growing subjects. The deciduous section is dealt
with first.

ARONIA FLORIBUNDA.--A delightful plant when grown as a bush, bearing
sweetly-scented hawthorn-like flowers in May, very effective, and
succeeded by a wealth of deep-purple berries in autumn. This should also
receive an annual pruning during winter or early spring. Allow a
distance of 2 feet 6 inches between the plants, which are well suited
for any purpose. The ground should be kept clean underneath it.

BERBERIS THUNBERGI.--Few deciduous shrubs can excel this for its
beautiful foliage during autumn, and it deserves to