FLOWER OF YULAN (Magnolia conspicua). ABOUT HALF NATURAL SIZE.

YULAN (Magnolia conspicua); ITS USE AS A WALL SHRUB, CROWSLEY PARK, HENLEY.

Name. Country or Origin and Natural Order. Colour and Season. General Remarks.
Magnolia acuminata (Cucumber tree) North America; Magnoliaceæ Greenish yellow From a flowering point of view this is one of the least showy of the Magnolias, but the tree has handsome foliage; it reaches a height of many feet. The leaves are nearly a foot long, and half as much in width. There is a tree 60 feet high in Syon Park, Middlesex.
*M. conspicua (the Yulan) China Pure white; early Spring Of all the Magnolias, and indeed of all our deciduous trees, this is one of the finest, and also one of the earliest flowering. It blooms in some seasons as early as March, and the pure white flowers, like silver chalices, stand out boldly from the bare dark-coloured branches. Owing to the flowers expanding so early, they are sometimes injured by spring frosts, hence in the northern parts of the country this species is often given wall protection. This Magnolia succeeds best in a good, well-drained, loamy soil of not too heavy a nature, indeed, such will suit all the Magnolias perfectly.
M. Fraseri (Fraser's Magnolia), (Syn. auriculata) North America Creamy white; May A distinguishing feature of this Magnolia is the shape of the large leaves, which are broader towards the upper portion than at the base. It reaches a height of 30 feet or more, but needs a spot sheltered from strong winds. The sweet-scented flowers are nearly 6 inches across.
M. glauca (the Swamp Magnolia) North America White A shrub from 10 to 12 feet high, with flowers not borne all at once, as in most of the others, but scattered over two or three months, from June onwards. It makes a pretty lawn shrub for a damp spot.
*M. grandiflora (the Evergreen Magnolia) Southern United States White; late Summer The evergreen Magnolia is more generally grown as a wall plant than in the open ground, though in the south and west of England it will thrive perfectly without protection. As a wall covering the handsome dark-green leaves render it effective at all seasons, and they also serve as an admirable setting for the large cup-shaped deliciously-scented flowers.
M. hypoleuca Japan Creamy white In Japan this is a tree 60 feet high, and is said to be a very desirable kind, but it has not been long introduced, and the plants of it in this country are small.
*M. Lennei Garden origin Glowing purple outside, pinkish within; late Spring The flowers of this are large, massive in texture, and delightfully coloured. They are a month or two later than those of the Yulan, hence they escape the frosts which sometimes injure it.
M. obovata (Syn. M. purpurea) Japan Purple outside, whitish within; late Spring A spreading shrub 6 to 8 feet high, with flowers much smaller than those of M. Lennei, and not of so pleasing a colour. It is, however, a handsome shrub, less particular in its requirements than most Magnolias.
M. parviflora Japan White; May and June A neat bush. The centre of the flower is occupied by a ring of bright-red filaments. It is rather tender.
*M. soulangeana Garden origin White, tinged purple outside; Spring A small tree more spreading in character than M. conspicua, and flowering also a little later. Very pretty, early flowering.
*M. stellata (Syn. M. halleana) Japan Pure white; March The earliest of all the Magnolias. It is a much branched shrub, seldom more than 4 feet high, and as much through. The flowers, which are borne in great profusion, are about 3 inches in diameter, and composed of a dozen or so of strap-shaped petals; a lovely shrub. There is a variety of this with pink flowers.
M. tripetala (Umbrella tree), (Syn. M. Umbrella) North America Creamy white; early Summer A tree remarkable for its large handsome leaves, which are arranged in a regular manner towards the upper parts of the branches. The flowers are creamy white. A sheltered spot suits this best.
M. Watsoni Japan Ivory white inside, flushed with rose on the exterior; May and June A bush about 5 feet high. The flowers are remarkable for their central cluster of crimson filaments. It needs a sheltered spot.

MAGNOLIA CONSPICUA var. SOULANGEANA (late Spring).

Name. Country or Origin and Natural Order. Colour and Season. General Remarks.
Notospartium Carmichæliæ New Zealand; Leguminosæ Rose; June This grows in New Zealand several feet high, but not here. It has graceful shoots, which are very pretty when smothered with the pink pea-shaped flowers. A correspondent to the Garden, writing in July 1900 from Castle Douglas, N.B., says: "I am sure if my plant of Notospartium Carmichæliæ were to be seen by any one who has not got it, there would be countless inquiries for it. It has always done well and flowered freely, but this year it is simply magnificent, with only the points of the twigs visible above the mass of bright pink blossoms."
Nuttallia cerasiformis California; Rosaceæ White; early Spring This is one of the prettiest and most interesting of March shrubs. It is of good habit, and produces a large quantity of dull white flowers in drooping racemes. The fruits, too, are pretty, not unlike those of a small plum, of reddish-yellow colour, with a plum-like bloom. It must be noted that the flowers are liable to be diœcious, and so, therefore the sexes must be planted together, though we have obtained fruit by sticking branches of the male flowers among those of the female shrub.
*Olearia Haastii (Daisy Bush) New Zealand; Compositæ White; July and August A valuable evergreen Box-like shrub, laden with small white Daisy-like blossoms with a yellow disc. Though a native of New Zealand, it is hardy in most parts of England.
O. macrodonta (New Zealand Daisy tree), (Syn. O. dentata) New Zealand White; July This has large Holly-like leaves, silvery on the undersides, and heads of Daisy-like blossoms. Far more tender than O. Haastii, this needs a wall in most parts of the south of England, though it is hardy in the extreme west and in the south of Ireland.
O. stellulata (Syn. O. gunniana, Eurybia gunniana) New Zealand White, yellow disc; May and June An evergreen bush, with small narrow leaves, the undersides covered with whitish felt. The Daisy-like flowers appear in profusion. Its requirements are the same as the last.
O. Traversii (Syn. Eurybia Traversii) New Zealand White; June In its native country this is a timber tree, but here it needs the same treatment as the last two. The flowers are small and creamy white.

OLEARIA MACRODONTA. (Redruth.)

Name. Country or Origin and Natural Order. Colour and Season. General Remarks.
Oxydendron arboreum Eastern United States; Ericaceæ Pure white; June and July This is a charming shrub, but in its native country grows to a height of 40 feet. The leaves are dark green, but very richly coloured in autumn. The bell-shaped white flowers remind one of those of the Lily of the Valley, and appear in pretty racemes.
Ozothamnus rosmarinifolius South Australia and Tasmania; Compositæ White; July A neat shrub, 4 to 5 feet high, with narrow rosemary-like leaves, and during the summer a profusion of white Aster-like blossoms. It is hardy only in the West of England.
*Pernettya mucronata Cape Horn, introduced in 1828; Ericaceæ Berries the chief beauty Many garden varieties. Between 1878 and 1882 the floral committee of the Royal Horticultural Society awarded no less than seven first-class certificates, selecting the following varieties for the purpose: P. alba, carnea nana, lilacina macrocarpa, nigra major, rosea purpurea. and sanguinea. There are ten or a dozen quite distinct shades of colouring, from white through tenderest pink, white and rosy pink, the colours then reaching to a soft scarlet, and ending with a dark blood-red, reminding one of the seeds of the Pomegranate, and also the differences in the size of the berries and foliage, particulars which impart additional interest to this useful group of plants. Some fifty or so years ago Mr. Davis of Hillsborough began his experiments with such forms of the Pernettya as were then in cultivation, and he selected as his first seed-parent P. angustifolia, a native of China, a densely branched, narrow-leaved evergreen shrub, growing to a height of about 3 feet. The fruit of this species is light pink in colour. It is a very effective subject, thriving well under the shade of trees, but in such a position does not, as might be expected, flower so freely as when grown in the open. P. mucronata, the type, bears reddish-tinted fruits. Regarding P. angustifolia as the hardiest of the two, Mr. Davis made this the first seed-bearing parent, and found the seedlings from it to vary considerably in the character of the foliage and colour of the fruit. This encouraged him to take seed from the best of his seedlings, and from it obtained the fine varieties which are now in our gardens. It is difficult to over-estimate their value as berry-bearing plants in autumn in peaty soil.
Philadelphus coronarius (Mock Orange or Syringa) Europe and Asia; Saxifrageæ White; early May A well-known shrub, from 6 to 10 feet high, with a profusion of white, strongly scented flowers. There are several varieties, the best being aurea, with golden leaves, and Keteleerii, with double blossoms.
P. gordonianus North America White; early July A free-growing bush with flowers twice the size of the preceding, and about six weeks later in expanding.
*P. grandiflorus (Large-flowered Mock Orange, Syn. P. inodorus) Southern United States White; Midsummer Forms a bush about 12 high, with large leaves and blossoms. It lacks the fragrance of the other species, which is to many people a point in its favour.
P. hirsutus (Hairy-leaved Mock Orange) North America White Grows about 5 feet high, and bears its comparatively small flowers in great profusion.
*P. Lemoinei (Lemoine's Hybrid Mock Orange) Garden Hybrid White; June and July A hybrid between P. coronarius and the little New Mexican P. microphyllus. It (P. Lemoinei) forms a slender, freely-branched shrub about 5 feet high, and has a profusion of small pure-white flowers that are most agreeably scented, the fragrance reminding one of ripe apples. The variety erectus is a rather stronger grower, and even a finer plant. Other delightful hybrid forms are, Boule d'Argent, a neat bush with double flowers; Candelabre, with larger blossoms than the other forms of Lemoinei; Gerbe de neige, dwarf form with large single flowers; and Manteau d'Hermine, semi-double. These are among the most charming of all hardy shrubs.
*P. Lewisii Western North America White; Mid-June One of the best, with long graceful arching shoots, and large trusses of pure white blossoms.
*P. microphyllus (Small-leaved Mock Orange) New Mexico White A dense rounded bush, 3 feet high and as much across, clothed with tiny leaves, and very fragrant flowers one inch across.
P. Satsumi (Japanese Mock Orange) Japan White Rather tenderer than the American kinds this forms a distinct spreading bush thinner than most of the others. The flowers are pure white and fragrant, and differ from the others in that the petals are less rounded and full, thus forming a more starry bloom.
*Pieris floribunda (Syn. Andromeda floribunda) North America; Ericaceæ White; April to May A rounded evergreen shrub, from 3 to 5 feet high, clothed with very dark green leaves, and with spikes of pure white Lily-of-the-Valley-like blossoms. It needs a fairly sheltered position and a cool moist soil, such as Rhododendrons delight in.
*P. formosa Himalayas White; May and June A large bold-growing shrub, with handsome dark-green leathery foliage. It has spikes of wax-like urn-shaped blossoms. It is too tender for general cultivation, except in the West of England and in Ireland.
*P. japonica (Syn. Andromeda japonica) Japan White This differs from the last in the white wax-like flowers being borne on long pendulous racemes, so that at their best the entire plant is quite veiled with them. The tips of the growing shoots too are bright red. This blooms naturally earlier than P. floribunda, and on that account the flowers are often injured by spring frosts, to prevent which, as far as possible, it should be planted in a sheltered spot, where the early morning sun does not shine direct on it.
P. mariana (Syn. Andromeda mariana) North America White; Summer A deciduous shrub a yard high, with wax-like flowers. A damp peaty soil suits it best.
P. ovalifolia Nepaul White; May Grows to a height of 10 to 12 feet, and has spikes of white flowers. This species succeeds better in the West of England and in Ireland than elsewhere.

A GROUP OF PRUNUS PERSICA (Kew.)

Name. Country or Origin and Natural Order. Colour and Season. General Remarks.
Prunus (Rosaceæ) ...... ...... This is a beautiful genus. As at present constituted it contains all those trees which were formerly and in many places still are included under the generic titles of Amygdalus, Persica, Cerasus, Padus, &c. The genus is divided into six sections, viz., Amygdalus, which includes Almonds and Peaches; Armeniaca, the Apricots; Prunus, which contains the true Plums and the Blackthorn; Cerasus, the various Cherries; Padus, the Bird Cherries; and Laurocerasus, under which is placed the Cherry Laurel, Portugal Laurel, &c. Although these genera may differ outwardly, yet they are botanically of the same character. The genus is widely spread, representatives being found in Europe and through Asia southward to Persia and Afghanistan, and eastward to China and Japan; it is also well represented in North America. With the exception of the section Laurocerasus, all the members of the genus are deciduous trees or shrubs of various sizes, and most of them are very beautiful, especially in spring. A fairly light well-drained soil is best. If inclined to be cold and heavy and is not very deep, the plums or any which succeed on the plum stock, are best, as they are more surface-rooting than the remainder. The presence of lime in the soil is highly beneficial to all the Prunuses and, if not naturally present, can easily be given in the form of old mortar-rubbish forked in liberally round them. Propagation is effected by seeds, cuttings, layers, or by budding or grafting. Details of propagation will be found with each section.
P. Amygdalus (the Almond) Native of Southern Europe and the Levant Pink; Spring This is the Almond, the tree which foreshadows the coming of spring, its leafless shoots enveloped in pink-tinted flowers. In the southern and central parts of the country it is largely grown, especially in small suburban gardens, but is not quite hardy enough for the north, unless the position is very favourable. The fruit is chiefly composed of the large deeply-pitted stone, which is only covered with a thick, tough, woolly skin. There are five good varieties: Amara, the Bitter Almond, with large white flowers tinged with a soft rose colour in the centre; dulcis, the Sweet Almond, with large red flowers and amongst the first to open; macrocarpa, which has larger flowers and fruits than the type, but the flowers are of paler colour; pendula, a half-weeping variety, deep pink flowers; persicoides, a handsome tree, more upright in growth than the type, and very free. The large pink flowers open somewhat earlier than those of the common Almond.
*P. davidiana (Amygdalus davidiana) China White or pale rose; January or early February This is a small tree and one of the earliest to bloom; the flowers opening as early as January in mild weather, though the middle or end of February is its usual flowering time. The buds are not injured by frost, but open when the weather gets milder. The leaves are broader and of duller colour than those of the Almond, but the flowers are of about the same size and substance. There are two forms, alba, white, which is the best, and rubra, rose or red. Beautiful under glass.
P. incana (Amygdalus incana) Asia Minor Pale red; March and April This species is allied to the pretty P. nana; it is a spreading shrub 4 to 6 feet high with linear leaves silvery-white underneath. The flowers are about half the size of those of the Almond and freely produced.
*P. nana (Amygdalus nana) Eastern Europe and the southern parts of Russia Rose; March and April This delightful little shrub is rarely more than 3 feet high, the thin twiggy growths being covered every Spring with rose-coloured flowers. It makes a charming bed for the Spring, and is very easily increased by layering.
P. orientalis Western Asia Rose; April This shrub grows to a height of about 6 feet, but is not very hardy. So many, however, enjoy the beauty of the Almond family that we include it, as in many southern gardens it is happy. The willow-like leaves are silvery white.
*P. Persica (the Peach), (Syn. Persica vulgaris and Amygdalus Persica) China, but formerly considered a native of Persia Pink; April or May This beautiful spring-flowering tree needs no description. It is not grown, however, so much as the various double-flowered varieties, such as flore-roseo-pleno and flore-albo-pleno; the former has very double bright rose flowers and the latter white. Flore-rubro-pleno is a double red form. The variety foliis rubris has deep purple-coloured leaves; the flowers are tinged with the same colour and the fruits are dark and freely produced. Magnifica is a double red-flowered variety with larger and finer flowers than the others, and the finest of all. All the Almonds are best propagated by budding or grafting on suitable stocks, which are the common Almond for warm light soils, and the Plum for heavier soils and colder localities. For budding the Mussel plum stock is the best to use, and either the same or the Myrobella plum for grafting. The latter is not usually a good stock for budding, the bark being too thin to hold the bud properly, which objection does not hold good with the Mussel plum stock. The species can also be got from seeds, and P. nana is best raised as stated from layers, or cuttings of half-ripened wood, which will strike, though not very readily.
P. Armeniaca (the Apricots)     Many of the species in this group are amongst the most precious flowering shrubs of the garden. All can be increased by seed. P. tomentosa and P. triloba flore-pleno can also be got from layers or cuttings. Half-ripened wood of the latter will also root readily, and soon form sturdy young trees. These two in particular should always be on their own roots: a plum stock kills them in a few years.
P. Armeniaca (common Apricot) Northern China Small, white, opening early in the year, and frequently blackened by frost We mention this because it is the parent of the various varieties of Apricot.
*P. Mume Japan Rose; early, before the leaves This is a small and pretty tree of upright growth, and the leaves large and shining green in colour. There are four varieties, viz., flore-albo-pleno, double white; flore-roseo-pleno, double bright rose; flore-rubro-pleno, double red; and pendula, which makes a pretty, small, weeping tree if worked standard high.
P. tomentosa China and Japan Pinkish This is a pretty, small branching shrub, with stout leaves covered with a thick tomentum; the flowers are followed by small red fruits.
*P. triloba China Pink; March or early April The species is not of much account, but the double variety flore-pleno is one of the most handsome of flowering shrubs. Its large, double, rose-coloured flowers are produced so profusely that hardly a leaf is visible. For a wall it is invaluable, but in this position it should only be pruned immediately after flowering, the summer growths being allowed to develop at will, as this is the wood that will produce flowers the following season.

PRUNUS JAPONICA. (Syn. P. sinensis.)

Name. Country or Origin and Natural Order. Colour and Season. General Remarks.
Prunus (the Plums)     There are several species of Prunus, but those mentioned are the most important for gardens. The Plums are best grown from seeds, but if these cannot be got then they must be worked upon the Wild, Mussel, and Myrobella or Myrobalan Plum. Plum stocks should be raised from seed. If got from layers or suckers they are liable to throw up suckers from the base, and ruin the plants worked on them.
P. cerasifera (P. mirobalana) Uncertain, but probably of Caucasian origin Small, pure white; Spring This is the well-known Myrobalan Plum, and the seedlings are used as stocks. Its hardiness and vigour in almost all soils and climates make it a good small shrub, and its white flower-clusters are delightful in early spring. The fruits are popular on the Continent, and are red in colour. It is used as a hedge in some places. There are two varieties, viz., angustifolia pendula, which is half pendulous in growth, and the well-known atropurpurea, more often called *P. Pissardi, which is a native of Persia, and has warm purple leaves, which get darker with age. The flowers are rose-tinted. It is a good shrub for colour, but must not be too freely planted.
P. communis (Wild Plum) The origin of this plum is uncertain; it is stated in some works to be a native of Britain, Europe, and a part of Asia White; April and March The wild plum is mentioned because a well-known tree, but its varieties are more beautiful. *Pruneauliana is very handsome; its fruit is the prune imported from abroad. It is of upright growth, with downy leaves, and large, pure white flowers. *P. fl. pl. is extremely handsome; it has double flowers. The wild plum is the same as P. domestica.
*P. divaricata Wide distribution from Macedonia Caucasus and Persia. Introduced in 1822 White; April or late March in a mild season This is one of the most beautiful of the Plums, but rarely seen. A fine example of it is now in the rock garden at Kew, and when the weather is mild before March is out, this spreading tree is enveloped in snowy-white flowers. But unfortunately its flowers are sometimes spoilt by late frosts. The growth is slender, twiggy, and dark in colour.
P. spinosa (the Sloe) Britain, and Europe, North Asia, &c. White The Sloe or Blackthorn of the English hedgerow is familiar, but the variety *flore-pleno is a good garden shrub; its spreading Spring shoots are covered in April with double white flowers, each like a little rosette, and longer lasting than the Sloe of the English lane. It is as yet rare in British gardens. This should be worked on the type.
The Cherries (Cerasus group)     A beautiful group of flowering trees. They are propagated by seeds or by grafting them on stocks of the Gean (P. Avium), but never resort to this practice if possible to avoid it. The small-growing cherries, P. humilis, P. Jacquemontii, P. japonica, P. prostrata, and P. pumila, must be increased by layers; the Gean stock kills them.
P. acida Europe White; April P. acida would be little heard of if it were not for its variety, P. a. semperflorens, (the All Saints' Cherry), which blooms twice or thrice in a season, indeed, keeps up a scattered succession from May to September. The first display of flowers takes place in April, and in about two months afterwards it blooms again. The fruits are very abundant, and are scarlet in colour. There are several other varieties, but not of much consequence.
P. Avium (the Gean or Wild Cherry) Europe, and a woodland tree in many parts of these Isles Pure white; April and May The Wild Cherry is pretty, and it is interesting as the parent of the fruiting cherries, but neither this species nor its varieties, decumana, white, the cut-leaved laciniata, or the weeping pendula, can approach the beauty of the *double white (flore-pleno), which is one of the loveliest of all flowering trees. In late April the whole tree seems enveloped in blossom as white as driven snow, and it lasts for many days in this condition. No garden should be without this queen of flowering trees.
P. Cerasus (Dwarf or Wild Cherry) Europe and Britain White; Spring This is not very interesting, except that it is one of the parents of the fruiting cherry, and in the garden is hardly wanted, as its double-flowered varieties are far more beautiful, especially *Rhexi flore-pleno, which has very double, snow-white, rosette-shaped flowers. It is one of the most beautiful of all the Cherries, and when grown as a standard makes a small and spreading tree of much charm. It is sometimes catalogued as C. caproniana multiplex, C. c. ranunculiflora, and C. serotina flore-pleno. Persicifolia has similar flowers, but tinged with rose. C. Cerasus and C. Avium have much in common, but the former has smaller leaves and an acid fruit.
P. Chamæcerasus (Siberian Cherry) Europe, but long grown in English gardens White flowers, ¾ in. across; Spring This is a small shrub, seldom more than 4 feet high; it has slender branches, shining dark-green leaves and flowers, followed by small reddish-purple acid fruits. When grown as a standard it makes a round, half-drooping and graceful tree.
*P. japonica China and Japan Double, pure white This is one of the prettiest of small shrubs when in flower. It is very charming against a wall, but is a success in the open, flowering freely, and for this reason makes an interesting and beautiful group. It grows between 3 and 4 feet high, and its long slender branches are often weighed down by the wealth of pure-white flowers. The leaves are tinged with red when young. The flowers of the variety flore-roseo-pleno are rich rose; it is a beautiful shrub. Increase only by layers or by cuttings; never graft.
*P. prostrata Mountains of the Levant Bright pink; Spring Mr. Goldring in the Gardener's Magazine, April 6, 1901, p. 210, writes thus of this Cherry: "I am afraid that this species, which is a low shrub from the mountains of the Levant, is not very easy to obtain, yet it is one of the most delightful of dwarf cherries. It is a spreading plant with slender arching branches, but scarcely prostrate. The leaves are amongst the smallest in this group, being from a half-inch to one and a half inches long, and finely toothed. Nor are the flowers large, being a half-inch or little more in diameter, but in their profusion they almost hide the branches. The colour is a bright, and, among Prunus, unusual shade of rose. This shrub was known to Loudon, and was recommended by him. It has, indeed, been in cultivation for nearly one hundred years, but seems to have shared the fate of many other lovely hardy shrubs in the middle decades of last century, and almost passed out of cultivation. It grows at elevations of 5000 to 6000 feet, and is perfectly hardy."
P. pseudo-cerasus (Japanese Cherry) China and Japan ...... This is a glorious cherry, and very popular in Japan; indeed, it is one of the most beautiful introductions we have had from that land of flowers. The recent double-flowered varieties should be in all gardens, and given a fairly moist soil and sunny situation, will bloom well. P. pseudo-cerasus goes under several names, such as Cerasus Sieboldi rubra, C. Watereri, and others. It is a small tree here, with stout greyish branches, and firm broad serrated leaves. *J. H. Veitch, with intense deep rose flowers, is very charming, and blooms from a fortnight to three weeks later than the type. The brownish-tinted foliage is quite a feature.
*P. pendula (Cerasus pendula rosea) Japan Deep pink; April and May A beautiful tree of distinct weeping habit, and raised from seed quite readily, retaining its true character. The flowers are borne profusely, and sometimes open in March. It is a tree that could be raised from layers. Mr. Bean, writing in the Garden of April 13, 1901, says: "Prunus pendula is as naturally pendulous in growth as the Babylonian Willow is, and it should, if possible, be obtained on its own roots. It is an early flowering kind—probably the earliest of the Cherries—being in bloom as a rule soon after April comes in. The flowers are of a lovely shade of delicate rose, but are not large. They are, however, freely borne, especially after a hot, ripening Summer and Autumn. In the United States it succeeds even better than here, and by some authorities is regarded as the loveliest of Japanese trees introduced to that country. So much cannot be said of it in Britain, but it is well worth cultivation for its beauty and earliness."
*P. serrulata (Cerasus serrulata) Introduced from China about 80 years ago. Also a native of Japan The flowers are in large loose heads, and are white, or white suffused more or less deeply with rose, and 1 inch to 1½ inch across. End of April This is one of the most ornamental of the Cherries. It is naturally a small tree with a rather loose habit, and is peculiar by reason of its short-jointed stunted-looking branches. The leaves are fairly large and very evenly serrated. For lawns or shrubberies it is excellent, making a good companion plant to its own countryman, the large-flowered pseudo-Cerasus and its European cousins, Cerasus and Avium. In addition to being an excellent outdoor tree, it may be cultivated in pots for forcing for the conservatory in Winter and Spring.
*P. Mahaleb Europe White; April and May The Mahaleb is well known for its remarkable profusion of pure white blossom and its free graceful habit. In the variety pendula, the pendent character of the branches is not unduly marked, but is sufficient to add greatly to the beauty of the tree. It is not only one of the best of Cherries, but of all flowering trees, and is as well adapted for planting in groups as it is when isolated as a single specimen. The flowers are borne on short racemes, and in such abundance as to envelop the tree in a snow-white mantle. Every garden should have at least one weeping Mahaleb.
P. Padus (the Bird Cherry) Europe, and a great part of Asia White; Spring A well-known tree, and frequently seen in woodlands, where its strong scent is quickly detected. It is a shapely tree, growing 20 feet to 30 feet high, and has long erect branches, and in Spring drooping racemes of flowers 6 inches or more long. The fruits are small and shining black in colour. There are, however, many poor forms, sometimes with almost greenish flowers. Perhaps the most valuable is the double variety, flore-pleno, which has very long racemes and very pure white. Pendula is a weeping variety which will, no doubt, be an acquisition, but it is of too recent appearance here to say much about it. It is curious to note that there is a variety (stricta) with an exactly opposite tendency, branches and racemes being quite erect. P. virginiana, a nearly allied Bird Cherry from North America, is also represented by a pendulous form. P. serotina and its variety pendula, and the other members of the Padus group, are not important.

PRUNUS SERRULATA IN FLOWER. (Spring.)

THE DOUBLE-FLOWERED BIRD CHERRY. (Prunus Padus fl. pl.)

Name. Country or Origin and Natural Order. Colour and Season. General Remarks.
Laurocerasus Group.      
P. ilicifolia California White A tender evergreen with holly-like leaves, but only hardy in warm southern and western countries. It is a small bush, 6 feet to 8 feet high, and has short and erect flower racemes and deep-green leaves.
P. Laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel) East Europe White A well-known evergreen, too freely planted in the past, and so vigorous as to over-run the garden in course of years. The varieties are more planted than the type, as they are handsomer. The most distinct are Bertini (latifolia), camelliæfolia, caucasica, rotundifolia, and schipkænsis; the last mentioned is about the hardiest.
*P. lusitanica (Portugal Laurel) Spain and Portugal White A popular evergreen. There are four varieties—azorica, which is very tender; coriacea; myrtifolia, small narrow leaves, and bears clipping well. P. ilicifolia is the only plant that need be raised from seed. The Cherry and Portugal Laurels, with their varieties, are usually propagated by cuttings, ripened wood of almost any size being cut into pieces 8 inches or so in length, and inserted nearly their full length in the ground. This can be done from the time the wood is ripe enough until the end of the year. Practically every cutting will root and make sturdy plants in a twelvemonth. The Portugal Laurel is also largely raised from seeds, which are gathered when ripe and sown immediately without any preliminary cleaning. If kept in sand until the following spring, they begin to grow before the season is sufficiently advanced to sow them, and if dried, nearly a year is lost before they germinate.

PYRUS SINAICA.

Name. Country or Origin and Natural Order. Colour and Season. General Remarks.
Pyrus Rosaceæ   An important and beautiful genus, as it includes the Pears, Apples, and Quinces of the hardy fruit garden, and such trees as the Flowering Crabs, the White Beam tree, Mountain Ash, and Pyrus japonica. It is divided into seven sections, viz., Pyrophorum, which includes the true pears; Malus, the Wild Crab apples, parents of many garden forms; Aria, of which the White Beam tree is a good type; Sorbus, in which is found the Mountain Ash; Adenorachis, which only contains the North American species, Cydonia, the Quinces, and Mespilus, with which is placed the Medlar. These are found practically throughout the northern temperate zone, under varying conditions, and with one or two unimportant exceptions, are all hardy in this country. The majority of the Pyrus are trees of considerable size. A few are small trees, and about half a dozen are low-growing and dense shrubs. All are deciduous, and will grow in ordinary garden soil, but none of them like a cold and moist soil and position. Ground that will grow Apples and Pears well will suit the Pyruses, though they will thrive in considerably poorer soil than is recommended for fruit culture. In planting, the ground should be deeply trenched, and the bottom well broken up, any clay or gravel that is encountered being thrown out and replaced with good soil. Most of the Pyrus root deeply, and if the soil is not properly prepared in the first place they are apt to fail and get cankered. Propagation is done by seeds, budding, or grafting, and in a few cases by suckers. The best ways are given with each section.
Pyrophorum Group (the True Pears).      
P. betulæfolia China and Japan White; early Spring A small and pretty tree, 15 feet to 20 feet high, with leaves somewhat like those of a Birch in shape, though rather larger. They are on long petioles, and have a pleasing sound when ruffled by the wind. It does not flower or fruit much until well established. The white flowers are in dense clusters and appear before the leaves.
*P. communis (the Wild Pear) Europe and Asia White; Spring As this is widely distributed it varies greatly. The type is more interesting for its flowers than for its fruit, which is hard, gritty, and dry. It grows 30 to 40 feet high, and has long spreading branches, half pendulous. When the tree is covered with its white flowers the effect is very beautiful. There are several named varieties, the best being flore-pleno, with semi-double flowers; linearis, with long, narrow leaves, and pendula, described by the name.
P. nivalis Eastern Europe White; Spring A small spreading tree which flowers in great abundance; the fruits are plentifully produced, and are nearly globular in shape, and of fairly good flavour, but dry. The habit of the tree and shape and flavour of the fruit suggest some of the garden pears. There is a variety with leaves variegated with white.
P. sinaica Asia Minor White; April This is one of the few species worth growing for their leaves alone, for during Spring and Summer it is quite silvery. Although about 20 feet high in its native country, it makes here, as a rule, a small bushy stunted tree.
*P. salicifolia (Willow-leaved Pear) Levant   A beautiful tree, about 15 feet high, and delightful to make groups of for the sake of its long and narrow silvery-white leaves. There is a creeping variety of it. The flowers are white, and the fruits small and woody, neither of much account. It is the effect of the foliage that we must consider, which is very charming when waving in the wind. A good tree for grouping and for small gardens, and this remark applies also to the weeping form. The Pyrophorum group will come true from seed, which is the best way of propagating them. If not from seeds they can be worked on stocks of the Wild Pear, on which they do fairly well, though much better on their own roots. There are other species in this section, such as P. auricularis, P. Michauxi, P. parviflora, P. Pashia, and P. sinensis, but the above are the most important.