all
state 18 inches apart, choosing the beginning of April for the purpose.
It should be cut to the ground each year after planting.

BOX.--The entire Box family is excellent for grouping when the soil is
suitable, but it is waste of time to attempt planting it in large
quantities unless the position and soil agree with it. A light surface,
with a chalky subsoil, is what it enjoys.

LAURELS.--The two best Laurels are _Prunus Laurocerasus caucasica_, the
hardiest of the whole family, and _rotundifolia_. The former may be
severely pruned and is excellent for clothing large bare places,
mounds, or banks; _rotundifolia_ is a splendid variety with larger
foliage, but not so hardy. The ground in which these Laurels are to be
planted should be trenched or bastard trenched, and small plants be
planted 3 feet apart all ways. To keep them in condition, prune hard
down during the growing season twice, if not three times, when they will
remain in good health for many years. _Prunus lusitanica_ (Portugal
Laurel) is happy in heavy soils, and its beautiful dark-green leaves are
very telling. This should also be planted in trenched ground at a
distance of 5 feet apart, and pruned once only during the year. So
treated, splendid beds are formed when suitable positions are chosen.

COTONEASTER BUXIFOLIA or WHEELERI, is a fine strong-growing evergreen
for almost any soil. It is well adapted for making beds, covering large
boulders or the old roots of trees, and for covering ugly iron fencing.
_C. buxifolia_ is a graceful and pleasing plant when covered with its
bright berries, and allowed to assume its natural habit. Plant 3 feet
apart, merely thinning out the growths occasionally.

COTONEASTER MICROPHYLLA.--A very charming shrub, and when planted on a
raised position, or on overhanging rocks, tree roots, and such like,
forms beautiful masses, especially when thickly studded with its crimson
berries. It sometimes becomes badly infested with brown scale, but this
is easily got rid of by applying a strong solution of soft soap and
water with a syringe.

ILEX AQUIFOLIUM (the Common Holly).--The Holly is one of the very finest
of our evergreens for bold planting. Fortunately, it is one of the few
evergreens that will succeed and grow luxuriantly under the drip of
trees, where many other things fail. Large breadths of Holly in good
health are a pleasure to look at at all seasons of the year,
particularly when well laden with bright-scarlet