of llnml Art and Taste. 



203 



are not sufficiently hardy, deters me from any 

 definite description. 



Those who are interested in Evergreens, 

 and can afford it, should give the best of 

 them a trial, protecting with evergreen boughs 

 during winter. Some of the sorts may prove 

 valuable. 



A New Evergreen. — It is always a 

 pleasure to record an addition to our list of 

 really hardy new plants ; and especially so, 

 when they are very beautiful and desirable in 

 all respects. We now urge the claims of a 

 new evergreen from Jaj^an, which as yet, has 

 no common name, but which is called by 

 botanists, Retinispora obtiisa. For the past 

 five years — two of which have been more try- 

 ing to our hardy plants than any within the 

 recollection of our oldest horticulturists — this 

 lovely tree has succeeded equally as well as 

 the Norway spruce. It grows rapidly and 

 forms a very graceful tree, with drooping, 

 silvery-green branchlets ; and appears equally 

 indifferent to the extremes of heat and cold. 

 So far as we have been able to judge, it is 

 not affected by any particular soil or situation, 

 but succeeds well wherever placed. So many 

 of the newer evergreens have been injured of 

 late years that our horticulturists haA'^e been 

 about ready to give up the whole family in 

 despair, as too fickle for this climate ; but we 

 think a fair test with this charming plant will 

 assure them that one, at least, will prove 

 desirable. — N. Y. Tribune. 



Lawn Trees. — The Country Gentleman 

 (Eng.) in discussing lawn trees, says that in 

 small places of two acres or less, growers 

 should avoid all trees that litter leaves, 

 nuts, flowers and other cast-oft' garments which 

 become scattered over lawns and flower beds 

 to the disgust of the owner of a well-kept gar- 

 den. Of course, it depends somewhat upon 

 the kinds of trees adjacent to the garden, as 

 some, like the Chestnut, are constantly con- 

 tributing something in the way of litter during 

 the entire summer. First, the long catkins, 

 like huge yellow worms, are scattered over 

 walks, out-buildings, and lawns, followed by 

 more or less early ripening leaves in July and 



August; then September brings down the 

 prickly husks, which tumble about to the dis- 

 comfort of feet incased in thin shoes, or the 

 " sit-down " of the lounger in the shade. 



A deciduous tree that will drop its leaves 

 all at one time, is far preferable to one that 

 keeps up a continual scattering through the 

 season. There are several species of Oaks 

 which belong to the latter class, and for this 

 reason are well worthy the attention of all 

 villa gardeners. 



A Mammoth Hhododendron This 



spring there flowered in the grounds at Court- 

 maccherry, near Bandon in Ireland, a fine 

 plant of Rhododendrou rhmamovieum, bear- 

 ing 130 trusses of flowers, and each truss 

 containing on an average 18 flowers. Total, 

 2,340 flowers. 



The l^tirple-Leaf Bireh — Ed. Andrie 

 writes to U inuslration Horlicolt that while 

 at the Horticultural Exhibition at Orleans, 

 he saw some forty plants of a beautiful 

 variety of the common white birch of Europe, 

 the leaves of which were completely purple or 

 purple-black, like the purple-leaf beech. 

 Noticing the peculiarity in the color of the 

 foliage, he took cions from it and grafted 

 them upon the young stocks of the common 

 birch, so that now he has some sixty plants of 

 one and two years of age. He thinks this 

 new leaf-color in the birch will prove to be 

 a great acquisition, and that it succeeds in 

 the poorest soils, at the same time preserving 

 all the strength and rural beauty of the 

 original type. 



Lilac Dr. Lindley — This is by far the 

 best addition which has been made of late 

 years to our hardy forcing shrubs. Here we 

 have a sort that will, in a short time, super- 

 sede the French production in the way of 

 White Lilac, since it sets its buds as small 

 plants and opens freely, while the French 

 plants are large before fit for forcing. We 

 have some plants 18 inches high, with a dozen 

 clusters of bloom, and if forced in a shady 

 house, it comes a good white. When it is 

 more plentiful and the plant gets up to, say 

 3 feet or so in height, there will be no more 

 showy plant for a greenhouse." — The Florist. 



