THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 3 



pendula), sent out by Messrs. Perry, of Banbury, and recommended iutbe 

 "Garden Oracle" of 1859, has been largely patronized as a decorative 

 plant for laAvns and for elevated positions on banks and rockeries. Por 

 deep green masses Grieslinia littoralis stands alone in the glossy richness 

 of its deep green leaves, and the rapidity with which it forms a dense un- 

 dergrowth in rich soil. Our recommendations of this shrub, with which 

 wc first became acquainted through Mr. Standish, who had it from 

 Messrs. Yeitch, have caused the distribution of nearly the whole of the 

 stock, and it will be some jeavs before the supply can be at all equal to 

 the demand for it. It endured the last terrible winter unhurt in the gar- 

 den of i[r. Mongredien, on the bleakest part of that clay slope, and we 

 have no doubt at the extreme north of the island it will prove as hardy as 

 in the vicinity of London. We would suggest the desirability of paying 

 more attention to the varieties of colour, which may be obtained by 

 judiciously grouping hardy trees and shrubs in positions where their 

 foliage would be acceptable in winter. The roses near the windows now 

 look pitiable objects ; how much more cheering a few evergreen beds or 

 one good clump of rhododendrons and kalmias. Then there is Skimmia 

 Japonica, which we do not meet with as often as we Avould wish, the very 

 model of a plant for a system of winter bedding. Our specimens are now 

 loaded with bunches of coral-coloured berries — more berries than leaves — 

 and the floAver-spikes rising to give the berries for next season. Take a 

 fifteen- feet circular bed, put in a centre of variegated hollies, then a broad 

 circle of Bcrberis fascicixlaris hybrida, next a circle of Grieslinia, and on 

 the margin all round Skimmia Japonica, and what a charming object 

 would that bed be at this dull time of year. Of course, the summer Avould 

 bring the usual regrets, that the evergreens were in the way of bedders ; 

 but any reasonable variety of bulbs could bo sprinkled in regular order 

 over such a bed, crocuses and snowdrops, early tulips, and to follow on 

 through the summer, liliums and gladioli. A well-defined plan of opera- 

 tions, and taking each step of the process at the right time, would enable 

 every amateur to plant his beds with small shrubs for the Avinter, and 

 remove them all to the reserve ground, or to make clumps elsewhere 

 about rustic-work and summer-houses during the summer, in order to have 

 full play for geometric colouring. Our old friend, the aucuba, has now a 

 relative, which may contend with it for a leading place, in the new Au- 

 cuba Himalaica, which, by its tree production of berries, comes into a class 

 which has been largely increased of late years. While we are on this 

 sxibject, we may mention a few other novelties of real merit, which will 

 soon take leading places in our garden scenery. Quercus bambusifolia, 

 introduced from China by Mr. Fortune, has a most graceful and novel form 

 of foliage, is quite hardy, and is likely to prove one of the best of his intro- 

 ductions. Berberis umbellata Avill be a favourite, because of the large 

 bright red berries which it carries all winter. Ceanothus Yeitcliiauus is, 

 perhaps, the finest acquisition to evergreen shrubs of any made of late 

 years ; it proves to be quite hardy, is a free grower, and produces an ex- 

 traordinary profusion of terminal bunches of flowers of the richest maza- 

 rine blue. Chamtebatia foliolosa is unique in its way ; it grows to about 

 three feet, is compact, branched, and erect in habit, and the foliage much 

 divided and fern-like, so as to have a very graceful effect when planted in 

 front Lines, or singly as a specimen. 



Among flowering shrubs, we must not omit to mention the new 



