44 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



which it produces. The spiraeas form a very large group of interesting and attractive 

 shrubs, representatives of which are found native in almost every part of the world. 

 None, however, are more beautiful when in flower than Van Houtte, which is then 

 literally a sheet of pure white bloom. This bush has already been referred to under 

 ornamental hedges (No. 26), but it is more useful when grown as an individual shrub. 

 Fig. 5 represents a specimen in full bloom on one of the lawns on the Experimental Farm. 



Fig. 5. — Van Houtte's Spiraea. 



This bush is about 4 feet high and a little more than 4 feet across. It has a graceful and 

 partly pendulous habit, as a rule it is hardy here, but in severe winters the branches 

 are sometimes injured at the tips. It is quite hardy in Western Ontario ; the usual 

 method of propagation is from cuttings. 



5. Thunberg's Barberry. Berberis Thunbergii. — This beautiful barberry, which has 

 already been referred to under No. 28 in the chapter on hedges as one of the most charming 

 shrubs for that purpose, is even more attractive when grown as a single specimen. 

 Then it has an opportunity of displaying its beauty of form which is neat and graceful. 

 The flowers are produced early in the season, but they are not conspicuous and are 

 partly hidden under the branches. Later, the scarlet berries are quite ornamental and 

 the brilliant scarlet colour assumed by the leaves of this bush towards the close of the 

 season makes it then a most conspicuous and attractive object. 



6. Red Tartarian Honeysuckle. Lonicera tatarica. — This is a very hardy and 

 useful shrub, a native of Tartary, which has long been a favourite among lovers of shrubs 

 and trees. The flowers open early in the spring. They are rose coloured and so abundant 

 as to partly hide the foliage. Fig. 6 shows one of these shrubs in bloom, a specimen 

 in one of the flower borders on the farm. They remain in flower for two or three 

 weeks, and after the flowers are gone they are succeeded by dark coloured berries which 

 are quite ornamental. In growth the bush has a rounded form and graceful habit. 

 There are a number of species in this group brought from different parts of the world 

 some of which have yellow flowers, others white, red or variegated. A group of the 

 different species and varieties planted together such as may be seen in the Arboretum at 



