THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 369 



most value. Aralia Fortunei is quite hardy and v^aluable for its 

 large palmate foliage. Aitcuhas, of which there are now many 

 varieties, are especially valuable, as they can be grown in the 

 border during the summer, and lifted and potted in the autumn 

 and again returned to the border in the spring without suffering iu 

 the least. The green-leaved female form, A. japonica feinina vindis, 

 is, in my opinion, the best of all the aucubas ; but it is well to have 

 a few plants also of the common form with spotted leaves. They 

 are both more effective when furnished with berries. Of the tree 

 boxes, which are useful for contrasting the best are JBuxus halearica, 

 and B. sempervirens latifolia, as they have larger leaves than the 

 common bos. The latter is not to be despised by those to whom 

 a little extra expense is a matter of some importance. Common 

 laurels are quite unfit for this purpose, because of their coarseness ; 

 and the Portugal laurel, which has a very pleasing appearance, 

 suffers so much when lifted and potted, and from a little neglect 

 when kept in pots, that it cannot be recommended. Euonymus 

 japonicus, notwithstanding its being so common, is desirable, for it 

 forms neat bushes, and its dark leafage brings out the variegation 

 of the other shrubs to wonderful advantage. ^. j. latifolius albo 

 variegatus and E.j. aureo variegatus, which have silvery and golden 

 variegation respectively, are most valuable because of their neat 

 habit and effective colouring. Ivies, trained to neat trellises, are 

 very pretty. The Irish and Algerian are the best for general 

 purposes. All the variegated forms are also very attractive. 

 Shimmia japonica is a very pretty little plant for an outer line in a 

 window-box, and also for a marginal band to a large vase or basket 

 when well furnished with its brilliant vermilion berries. It may be 

 lifted in the autumn and potted without receiving any injury, if the 

 work is carefully done. 



In addition to the foregoing, some of the coniferous plants are moat 

 valuable forwindows and balconies. Afew of the best are the American 

 and the Chinese Arho vitces, Cupressus Lawsoniana, when from one to 

 two feet in height, Retinospora oltusa, B. pisifera, Thuja Lohbi, and 

 T. tartarica. These should not be grown in very large proportions, 

 but their upright habit and feathery spray form a pleasing contrast 

 to the round heads and distinct leafage of the shrubs enumerated 

 above. They should all be put in pots of the smallest size possible, 

 and if they are not turned out of the pots and planted in a border 

 in the spring, the pots should be plunged in a border in a rather 

 shady situation, but not overshadowed by trees, and care taken to 

 supply them liberally with water during the summer season. Any 

 pruning that may be necessary to keep the plants compact and in 

 proper shape should be done in the spring when they are removed 

 to their summer quarters. 



The List of Botanic Gardens, and of Pkofbssomi, Cueators, and Cohres* 

 roNDENTS on matters botanical and horticultural, origiii:ited a few years since by 

 Professor E. Morren, has lately been revised, and the third edition is now before us. 

 It is a complete directory, and is supplemented by an index of names and an index 

 of places. From the ttrst of these we find that it gives the names and addresses of 

 about bOO teachers and promoters of botanical science. 



December. 



