78 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



for many years been a joy with its golden rain, and of late we are 

 doubly well off with improved forms, with long chains of golden 

 flowers. These will become noble flowering trees as they get old ; 

 hence the importance of grouping Laburnum trees to get the varieties 

 together. 



Among the early charms in the spring garden are the slender 

 wands of the Forsythia, hardy Chinese bushes, pale yellow, delightful 

 in effect when grown in picturesque ways ; effective also on walls or 

 grouped in the open air on banks. Another plant of refined beauty, 

 but too little planted, is the Snowdrop-tree (Halesia). Unlike other 

 American trees, it ripens its wood in our country, and often flowers 

 well. The Mountain Laurel of America (Kalmia) is one of the most 

 beautiful things ever brought to our country, and as a late spring 

 flower is precious, thriving both in the open and in half shady 

 places. 



Broom and Furze. — There is no more showy plant or one more 

 beautiful in effect in masses than the common Broom and all its allies 

 that are hardy enough, even the little Spanish Furze giving fine 

 colour. The common Broom should be encouraged on bluffs and 

 sandy or gravelly places, so as to save us the trouble of growing it in 

 gardens, for in effect there is nothing better. The same may be said 

 of the Furze, which is such a beautiful plant in England and the 

 coast regions of France, and the double Furze deserves to be massed 

 in the garden in picturesque groups. In country seats, especially 

 those commanding views, its value in the foreground is very great, 

 and it is so easily raised from seed that fine effects are very easily 

 secured, though it may be cut down now and then in hard winters. 



Rhododendron and Magnolia. — The glory of spring in our 

 pleasure grounds is the Rhododendrons ; but they are so over- 

 mastering in their effect on people's minds that very often they lead 

 to neglect of other things. It would be difficult to overrate their 

 charms ; but even amongst them we require to discriminate, and avoid 

 the too early and tender kinds. Many of the kinds raised from R. 

 ponticum and the Indian Rhododendron, while they thrive in mild 

 districts in the south of England and West of France, near the sea, 

 are not hardy in the country generally. Some of these tender 

 hybrids certainly flower early, but we get little good from that. The 

 essential thing, when we give space to a hardy shrub, is that we should 

 get its bloom in perfection, and therefore we should choose the broad - 

 leaved hardy kinds, which are mostly raised from the very hardy 

 North American R. catawbiense, and be a little particular in grouping 

 the prettiest colours, never using a grafted plant. For many years the 

 Yulan Magnolia has, when well grown, been one of the finest trees in 

 English southern gardens, and nothing is more effective than the Lily- 



