PLANTS WITH ORNAMENTAL FRUITS 9 1 



Crataegus (Hawthorn). — Many species can be grown 

 in pots for their flowers, but the one with the finest fruits 

 is C. pyracantha^ the evergreen thorn, especially the variety 

 Lelandi, which flowers when it is only a tiny plant. It is 

 ornamental all the winter. All of them are rather slow 

 growing, and should be obtained as established plants. 

 They should be outside during the summer, but should 

 be brought indoors before the fruits colour sufficiently to 

 attract birds, which soon devour them. Seed germinates 

 readily, but in order to save time it is better to propagate 

 by means of cuttings, or grafts can be inserted on the 

 common thorn. 



Fuchsia procumbens. — See p. 99. 



Pernettya. — The most useful species is P. mucronata^ 

 sometimes called the prickly heath. A native of the Straits 

 of Magellan, it is quite hardy. There are many fine varieties 

 with berries pink, scarlet, crimson, purple, and other colours, 

 all of them very effective in autumn and winter. The genus 

 is closely related to the heaths, and requires the same 

 treatment (see Erica, p. 54). Like them, it should not be 

 pruned. 



Physalis (Winter Cherry). — The hardy species P. Alke- 

 kengi and the larger fruited P. Frauchetti are common in 

 gardens, and are often used in vases for winter decoration. 

 More suitable for pots is P. peruviafia (Cape gooseberry), 

 of which there are at least two fine varieties — edidis^ with 

 yellow fruits which are sometimes eaten, and violacea^ with 

 violet fruits. They are of easy cultivation, and can be 

 propagated by seed or by division. When they die down 

 they should be kept fairly dry until they begin to grow again. 



Rivina humilis (Bloodberry). — A small shrub which 

 bears in winter great quantities of scarlet berries. It is 

 easily managed in a warm greenhouse. 



Skimmia japonica. — There are several varieties of 

 this evergreen shrub, mostly with white fragrant flowers 

 and bright red berries. It can be propagated by seed, or 

 more quickly by cuttings. As is the case of all evergreens, 

 cleanliness of foliage is important. Being quite hardy, 



