HARDY SHBUBS. 183 



Hale&ia tetraptera. (Snow-drop Tree.) — Although this interesting plant may be 

 procured for a small sum, it is seldom seen in the shrubbery. The flowers, which 

 are white, appear before the leaves, and are succeeded by a fleshy-winged fruit. It 

 is very ornamental, and deserves more extensive cultivation. 



Halimodendron. — A most beautiful leguminous shrub, or small tree, with pink 

 flowers in drooping bunches. It may either be grown on its own roots or grafted 

 on the Laburnum, or Thorn- Acacia. On a lawn it would make a very handsome 

 appearance. It flowers in May. 



Ribes. — The varieties of the R. sanguine um are now as common as the Gooseberry; 

 but the beautiful R. niveum, and niany other species equally interesting, are far less 

 widely diffused. The snow-white flowers of this plant are veiy attractive, and so 

 are those of speciosum, Gordonianus, aureum, and Jloridum, all of which should 

 be obtained. To keep the plants of a compact form, they should be closely pruned 

 in autumn, as in the case of the common Gooseberry, and will then flower more 

 freely. The largest collection of Ribes in this country is that of the Messrs. 

 Loddiges, where all of those we have named, and many others, may be obtained. 

 At most nurseiies, however, several species are kept. 



Spiraa. — The Spiraeas are rather numerous, and all are pretty. There arc 

 three species which we would recommend for a small garden, Bough ssii, ariafolia, 

 and the double-flowered variety of prunifolia. The first has rosy-flowers, produced 

 from the end of July to September, and grows about four feet high ; aricefolia is a 

 very elegant species, producing in June large drooping bunches of whitish flowers, 

 which have a charming effect ; prunifolia flore-pleno is, perhaps, one of the most 

 desirable of deciduous shrubs, on account of the early period at which it flowers, 

 generally in April, and its double blossoms of pure white, with here and there a 

 spot of green at the tips of the petals, are always much admired. 



Virgilia lutea. — This handsome shrub, or rather small tree, is another of those 

 subjects too rarely seen in cultivation at the present day. If its merits alone are 

 considered, it ought to be as common as the Laburnum, which it resembles ; but its 

 flowers are produced a month or six weeks later than those of that well-known 

 shrub. It is perfectly hardy, and will attain the height of fifteen feet, but may be 

 trained to a dwarfer form by stopping the leading shoots while young. This 

 beautiful plant is not often kept by nurseymen, but may be had of Messrs. Loddiges. 

 Its classical associations alone would make it a desirable plant, even were it less 

 ornamental. 



Weigela rosea. — Few of Mr. Fortune's Chinese plants have become* so popular as 

 this interesting shrub, for nothing can exceed the beauty of its appearance in spring, 

 when covered with its large pink and white flowers. In good soil (and so fine a 

 plant deserves to be supplied with a generous compost) it grows five feet high, 

 forming a handsome bush. It is quite hardy; although in very exposed situations, 



