66 THE ELOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. ' 



forcing, this forms a neat, ornamental hardy shrub, of medium size 

 and spartium-like habit. It blooms at the same season as the 

 Chimonanthus, producing its bright golden yellow salver-shaped 

 blossoms in abundance. 



Bhododendron dauricum ateovirens. — This is the earliest 

 flowering species of the genus, producing numerous rich purple 

 salver-shaped flowers in February and March ; it forms a compact, 

 small, branching shrub, from one to two-and-a-half feet high, of 

 semi-evergreen habit, with dark green leaves. Amongst American 

 plants, rt quiring heath mould, this species appears a conspicuous 

 and ornamental object. 



Erica carnea. — This is certainly the most valuable and inte- 

 resting of hardy heaths. It flowers early, is compact and dwarf in 

 habit, and, when grown in quantity, enlivens the American borders 

 and beds at a season when ornament is most required. This species 

 is well adapted for a bed or group. It also succeeds in large pots 

 or vases, if kept cool and moist at the roots and replaced early. It 

 is valuable for replenishing winter bouquets, especially in cool 

 rooms. It may not, perhaps, be generally known that if half the 

 plant or plants be covered with soil, or probably with any other 

 light material, for a period before the flowers attain their colour, it 

 will blanch them to such a degree as to present the appearance of 

 a distinct pale or white variety, forming a lively contrast with the 

 rosy-pink hue of the unblanched plants. This heath may be planted 

 in the ordinary flower-borders, using as a substitute for peat or 

 heath-mould, one-half finely sifted, pure unfermented leaf-mould 

 (divested of its earthy matter), the remainder equal portions of fine 

 river or white sand and sandy loam, -well mixed. This compost 

 should be well pressed previous to the plants being firmly planted 

 in it. 



Andromeda floribfnda. — This is an exceedingly neat, compact, 

 dwarf, evergreen shrub for the peat border. It grows from one to 

 four feet high, and produces abundance of white bell-shaped flowers, 

 resembling the lily of the valley in miniature ; they rise conspicu- 

 ously above the dark green myrtle-like foliage. 



Bjbes sanguineus! superbum. — A variety far superior to the 

 species. Its numerous pendent racemes of richly crimson-tinted 

 blossoms, are produced in March and April. It thrives in the 

 commonest dry soils, but prefers a limestone substratum. A valu- 

 able ornament in front of larger shrubs. 



Weigela rosea. — Perhaps the most valuable addition to hardy 

 shrubs since the introduction of Eibes sanguineum. It forms a neat, 

 middle-sized deciduous bush, with asyringaor deutzia-like habit, and 

 produces a profusion of richly shaded rose and white funnel-shaped 

 flowers. Its adaptation in ordinary soils and treatment will, ere 

 long, place it in the foremost rank of ornamental plants in flower 

 garden shrubberies. 



Forstthia viRiDissiMA. — A neat, erect, branching, deciduous 

 shrub, from three to seveu feet high, of a robust privet-like growth, 

 with dark green serrated leaves, and long branch-like racemes of 

 rich \ello\v jasmine-like flowers, diffusing a pleasing balsamic 



