THE FLORIST. 83 



the previous season will require to be cut out, as they often die from 

 being completely exhausted ; but numerous young shoots from the 

 base of the tree are ready to take their place for the following sea- 

 son : none of those young shoots should be shortened. A species or 

 variety closely allied to this is Cytisus falcatus, much like the fore- 

 going, but with a habit not quite so pendulous ; its flowers are per- 

 haps a little larger, and its shoots and buds remarkable in winter for 

 their bright silvery hue. 



Another drooping species, with yellow flowers, is Cytisus supinus ; 

 this is so pendulous, that its shoots form a perfect parasol-like tree, 

 highly ornamental. 



Cytisus nigricans is of upright growth, and forms a compact 

 round head, differing from most of this tribe in blooming in summer. 

 Nothing can be more beautiful than a tree of this species in June 

 and July, with its deep, very deep golden flowers; so brilliant, that the 

 eye is at once arrested. Cytisus sessilifolius is also of upright, rigid 

 growth, and soon forms itself into a dense globular head ; this may 

 be assisted, if desired, by shortening those shoots that are vigorous ; 

 its flowers are of the same golden hue as the preceding : it blooms 

 about a month earlier. I had a tree of this species which continued 

 in great beauty for fifteen years ; it was always called the " Golden 

 Tree," and richly deserved its name. Of a very distinct habit, 

 although of the same genus, is the Purple Cytisus {Cytisus pur- 

 pureus), and its varieties. This species gives purple flowers, is quite 

 pendulous, and very graceful and beautiful. A variety known as C. 

 purpureus major has larger flowers ; its habit not quite so pendulous. 

 Another variety, called C. purpureus fiore albo, has flowers of the 

 purest white ; this is a most remarkable and beautiful little tree, also 

 pendulous. A variety with dark purple flowers, called Cytisus atro- 

 purpureus, is also very desirable. Cytisus purpureus elongatus is a 

 hybrid raised on the continent ; it partakes, as its name imports, of 

 the habit of C. elongatus ; its flowers are pale yellow, tinted with 

 lilac ; its shoots are graceful and slender, but not exactly pendulous : 

 it is a charming variety, and blooms most profusely in April and 

 May. All the species and varieties of Cytisus purpureus, except the 

 latter, will live much longer, and grow with more vigour, if grafted 

 on stems of the Purple Laburnum, which is a curious hybrid between 

 the Cytisus purpureus and the common Laburnum. Some few years 

 since, trees of this so-called "Purple Laburnum," imported from 

 France, were sold at auction sales in London at a guinea and up- 

 wards each. As some of your readers may still be ignorant that 

 such a tree exists, I may as well state that its flowers are not purple, 

 but of a dingy, dull lilac. This tree is, however, curious, and remark- 

 able for putting forth branches of the Purple Cytisus, and also of 

 the common Laburnum, so that the tree produces at the same time 

 yellow, purple, and lilac flowers. 



Trees of the Purple Cytisus and its varieties often suffer from 

 their shoots being too much crowded ; they may be thinned in winter 

 with advantage, taking out one-third, but not shortening those that 

 are left, as it destroys their graceful pendulous habit. 



