82 THE FLORIST. 



together ; and each winter succeeding the planting, a layer of manure 

 may be spread on the surface of the beds or borders, to be washed 

 down to the roots by the rains : in order to obviate its unsightly ap- 

 pearance, cover with a little earth. Amateurs who neglected to pro- 

 vide themselves with stocks (for budding during the ensuing summer) 

 in October and November, should do so without delay, and plant 

 them in an airy, open situation, but sheltered from the wind. Strong 

 healthy stocks should be obtained about the thickness of a man's 

 thumb ; the common Dog-Rose can be taken up from the hedges ; 

 and I suppose the Boursault, or any other stock preferred, may be 

 obtained from any nurseryman. They should be cut off, with a 

 clean slanting cut, just above an eye or bud, any height the grower 

 wishes to have his plants ; but if worked much above four feet, the 

 wind has a very powerful effect on them when they have large heads. 

 As the young snoots, in which to insert the buds, generally break 

 from where the side-shoots have been cut, the latter should be re- 

 moved close to the stock, smoothly and nicely, but not too close : at 

 this season of the year they will present the appearance of straight 

 sticks stuck in the ground. 



January 15. 'Fodrj. 



LAWN TREES. 



There are numerous suburban gardens with lawns too small to be 

 " cut up" with clumps or beds of shrubs and flowers, yet capable of 

 much ornament, by having a few select trees dotted about them ; but 

 few proprietors of such gardens have, however, the necessary know- 

 ledge to select the most appropriate kinds ; a descriptive list of 

 such will not, therefore, perhaps, be out of place in the pages of The 

 Florist, confined to species easily procurable of any nurseryman at a 

 very moderate price, i. e. from \s. 6d. to 2s. 6d. each. 



Among these small ornamental trees, the species and varieties of 

 the genus Cytisus, grafted on stems of the Laburnum, are highly 

 ornamental. In very light and poor soils they are said to be short- 

 lived, but this is generally owing to a want of common care and cul- 

 ture ; the grass should not, in such soils, be suffered to grow up 

 close to the stem, and they should have an annual surface-dressing 

 of manure in the autumn ; in summer, the small circle round their 

 stems need not be bare ; some flint stones, or pieces of rock, or moss, 

 may be placed round them to keep their roots cool and moist. In 

 deep fertile soils this care will not be required. With respect to 

 their duration, I have had specimens in great beauty from ten to 

 fifteen years. Some of the species are remarkably pendulous and 

 graceful, others rigid and compact, . forming round-headed trees. 

 Among the pendulous species none are more beautiful than Cytisus 

 elongatus. This makes long slender shoots, which in April and 

 May are completely weighed down by the numerous bright yellow 

 flowers it puts forth. In winter the branches that have bloomed 



