TO THE FLOWER GAEDEX. 277 



swell, and be planted out in rows, about eighteen inches from 

 plant to plant, and two feet between the rows, forming 

 nursery-beds ; and, as they are generally grown into bushes, 

 they should be cut down to three or four inches high. Their 

 first growth should be regulated, so that they do not grow 

 out of form ; thus, if any shoots are too vigorous, or are 

 growing awkwardly, the ends should be taken off, to keep 

 thera within bounds and help forward the rest. If any of 

 them are to be formed into standards the straightest and 

 tallest should be selected, and planted by themselves, and 

 pruned to a single stem. When these begin to start all the 

 buds must be rubbed off, except the three or four nearest the 

 top ; the leader will shoot up a good deal faster for pre- 

 venting the side-shoots from robbing it of nourishment, and 

 as it grows on, more side branches will come ; but the 

 bottom branches may be cut off close, so long as three or 

 four shoots can be left. When the plant is tall enough the 

 top may be cut out, to encourage side growth at the top, but 

 not down the stem, where the buds must always be rubbed 

 off as soon as they come. There is a great variety of species, 

 but few are so handsome as the Guelder Rose, except its 

 evergreen congener, the Laurestinus. V. macrocephalum and 

 V. j^licatiim are, however, fine showy shrubs. Rich loamy 

 soil. Layers, cuttings, or suckers. 



Viburnum tinus (Laurestinus). — This is one of the best 

 of cultivated garden shrubs, being evergreen, free-growing, 

 free-blooming, of handsome appearance at all times, and 

 flowering in winter. It is open to but one objection, and 

 that is that it is sometimes injured by severe frosts. The 

 Laurestinus is generally seen as a dwarf bushy evergreen 

 shrub. It is mostly raised from cuttings, though some- 

 times from layers. The cuttings are taken in autumn, and 

 planted in sandy soil in a north border ; or, what is safer, they 

 are planted in deep seed-pans, which are plunged where they 

 can be readily sheltered in case of very severe weather. They 

 become well rooted during the next summer, and by the fol- 

 lowing spring may be planted out in rows eighteen inches 

 apart, by six or eight inches in the row. From this position 

 they may be removed, after twelve months' growth, to where 

 they are to remain. They require no particular soil. 



