HARDY SHRUBS. 



181 



of the plant is very graceful, and in autumn the deep purple tint of the bracts and 

 berries adds greatly to its beauty. In good soil, it will reach the height of five or 

 six feet ; but it will succeed very well in any ordinary soil. It is a fast grower, 

 and readily increased by seeds or cuttings. 



Piptanthus JVepalensis.—Eere is another leguminous shrub, rarely seen in gardens, 

 but which is eminently deserving a place in even the smallest. It is sufficiently 

 hardy for all but the most northern counties ; but will succeed on a wall, in any 

 part of Great Britain. The flowers are yellow, of some size ; and although lasting 

 but one day, are produced for some time in succession, and make a very showy 

 appearance. It is easily increased by seeds or cuttings, and grows from five to six, 

 or eight feet high, in any common soil. 



Ruscus. (Butcher's Broom.)— The plants of this curious genus are very rarely 

 seen in cultivation, though, from their dwarf, compact habit, and indifference as to 

 soil or aspect, they merit attention. They will succeed under the drip of trees, 

 and, when in fruit, are very ornamental. There are several species, one of which, 

 aculeatus, is a British plant ; but is less desirable than R. racemosus, sometimes 

 termed the Alexandrian Laurel, which is of taller growth, and has larger foliage 

 than aculeatus. They are both readily increased by suckers, and will thrive in 

 any moderately good soil. 



Xanthorhiza. — This curious and interesting plant — for there is but one species, 

 apiifolia — is, perhaps, one of the rarest of shrubs ; but its singular foliage and 

 flowers are always attractive from the contrast they afford to other plants. The 

 leaves are much divided, and, as the specific term implies, somewhat resemble 

 those of the Parsley. The flowers are rather small, but numerously produced in 

 large panicles, and are at first of a green tint, which changes after a few days to 

 purple. It rarely exceeds three or four feet in height, and will grow in any good 

 soil. The plant belongs to the Eanunculus tribe, and is one of the very few 

 shrubs included in that order. It is cultivated by Messrs. Loddiges of Hackney, 

 and is by no means expensive. 



We have omitted many of the commoner evergreens, as being too widely diffused 

 to require notice ; and we have also been obliged to exclude most of the plants 

 termed ' Americans,' requiring a peat soil, such as the Kalmia, Ledum, Rhodo- 

 dendron, and others, which, with their allies, will be noticed in an early number. 



Among the deciduous shrubs now in cultivation, many are of great beauty; but 

 there are, however, fewer novelties in this class, than among the evergreens, and 

 most of those we have named below are now well-known plants. 



Adenocarpus. — The species now included under this head were formerly classed 

 as Cytisus; from which they differ, in having a small yellow waxy gland on each side 

 of the seed near the hilum. The only one commonly found at the nurseries is the 

 A. intermedins, a somewhat slender shrub three or four feet high. The pea-like, 



