100 TEANSACTIOXS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lv". 



forward to the time when all the old Spotted Laurels will 

 cany a rich load of crimson berries. 



Another specimen exhibited bearing fruit was SJdmmia 

 Foremani, a supposed hybrid, >S^. fragrans x S. oUata, raised 

 by Mr Fred. Foreman, Eskbank Nursery, Dalkeith, which 

 carries its large conical clusters of showy crimson berries 

 on the end of the season's growth, and well above the 

 foliage, rendering it a very effective shrub in ornamental 

 grounds. The berries are very persistent, the old berries 

 being still fresh and bright, while the young are about full 

 grown ; in fact, at Eskbank Nursery the crop of three seasons is 

 seen on the plant at the same time. Seedlings of this Skimmia 

 are as vigorous and fertile as the parents, but the males 

 largely predominate. Females are, however, readily raised 

 from cuttings ; and as the plant becomes better known, it is 

 certain to be a favourite with the ornamental planter. 

 Skimmia jcqjonica is equally hardy, and prolific of berries of 

 a bright red colour, and is a very pretty and interesting 

 dwarf shrub of Japanese origin. 



Specimens of Cydonia japonica, the Japan Quince, were also 

 shown. The typical scarlet flowered variety were introduced 

 from Japan in 1815, and is well known as a brilliant early 

 spring- flowering plant, generally grown against a wall ; but 

 it, and the white variety, of which a specimen was also ex- 

 hibited, thrive well and flower freely as bushes at Dalkeith. 

 Cijdonia Manlei is also a profuse spring-flowering plant, but 

 of a more slender habit, and is best trained against a low 

 wall, where its orange-red blossoms have a very pleasing 

 elfect. 



Specimens of Uuon/pnus japonicus and Acer ^^a^ma^wm 

 were exhibited in further illustration of the rich colours and 

 beautiful forms of the foliage of Japanese shrubs. The 

 varieties of Euonymus japonicus exhibited include such 

 beautiful leaved forms as alho-marginatus, aureo-mar- 

 (jinatus, latif alius cdho-varicgatus, latifolius aureo-varicgahis, 

 angustifolius, and radicans variegaius. The Japanese maples 

 exhibited were Acer palmatum (syn. polymorphum), atropur- 

 'pv/reum, A. p. dismctuni, and A. p. elegans, all consj)icuous 

 })y tlio ric'h tints of tlieir young foliage, which has a very 

 striking effect among the quieter shades of foliage dis- 

 played by shrubs in general. The species was introduced 



