406 



collection of shrubs will form a valuable adjunct. Already many 

 of his rare plants have been given to nurserymen and amateurs 

 and have thus found their way into many European gardens. 



Although the richness of its Chinese species is its most striking 

 feature, the fruticetum at Les Barres is planned to include a 

 comprehensive collection of shrubs that are hardy there, whether 

 European, Asiatic or American. In the arrangement of the 

 Natural Orders and genera, the Genera Plantarum of Benthain 

 and Hooker is largely followed. Where the collection is not yet 

 complete, space has been left for the additions as they are obtained. 

 This plan is a wise one, for although it involves the existence of 

 temporary bare spots, it enables a plant to be put in its appointed 

 place once and for all, and avoids the loss and trouble attendant 

 on repeated transplanting where immediate effects are sought. 



Davidia involucrata is now, through the enterprise of Messrs. 

 Veitch, plentiful in Europe, but it existed at Les Barres for some 

 years before Messrs. Veitch obtained it in quantity from China, 

 rhe original plant, which is in M. de Vilmorin's private garden, 

 flowered for the first time in 1907. It has flowered again this vear, 

 and is now carrying the first fruits ever produced in Europe. 

 Ibese are borne singly on slender stalks, about 4 in. Ion?, and in 



f 



numerous 



many 



torms are perhaps the most interesting. The most striking of 

 these, R. sericea, var. pieracantha, is notable for its long, flat, 

 translucent, rich red spines. M. de Vilmorin has also 

 distinct forms of R. macrophijlla and R, moschata. 



Many new cotoneasters have found their way into gardens 

 through Les Barres, and there are several others of great promise 

 as yet unnamed. The charming and distinct C. adpressa, a low, 

 very dense bush, here covers a space 9 ft. across. Platycanja 

 stroOUacea, a rare and curious ally of the walnuts, was in blossom ; 

 the flowers are greenish white and are borne in large panicles. 

 An unnamed species of Bauhinia promises to be hardy, and if so 

 wiii add quite a new and distinct type to our hardy shrubs. 



h^ ^ UiS T . ata ™ 1 ?™ is an a[ly of the nettle-trees (Celtic) ; it 

 ™2 8 7 w ; n ? ec \ f ™ts and is here 30 ft. high. A true nettle- 

 tree {Oelhs heterophi/lla) with leaves strangely diverse in shape, 



£™E* JOl I i fr0D M n r 8 P ecies Previously in cultivation. 

 *hfo «£ atam - f0 J m > 12 T ft - hig^ was carrying numerous long 

 rln vLlZ- r8 ' f G V mnodad ™ chinensis is an interesting Asiatic 

 En Te ^ a genUS lon £ thou Z hi t0 b « exclusively American. 

 ™ 2C#*5 1 J 8anew additi °A to a small and interesting 

 flXrinc, f'f'i ^?' m ' the Hi malayan horse-chestnut, was 

 wkh itTL 7 ' Th ? new 4«*!»*« Vilmorini, from China, 

 ree of ITT *T\ branches > * represented here by the parent 



few <S thi '£? P ^ ntS at 1 preS6nt in Eur °P e - These are ^ut a 

 VeW ma n V Tnr and r T^ hle fchin g« *o be seen at Les Barres. 



numbere Inly there ' &8 yet withoat name8 > and under 



* 



