280 PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 



on those of the true Cytisus. Propagated by seels, layers, suckers, 

 grafting and budding. (See Chapter XVIII., Stocks). 



Lagerstroemia (Crape Myrtle). A splendid genus of deciduous 

 shrubs from China and the East Indies. Flowers with wavy, crisped 

 petals in large panicles, and of a light red or white color. All popular 

 shrubs, cultivated under glass in cool climates, and in the open air in 

 warm ones. Propagated by layers and by cuttings of the young, tender 

 shoots, placed in a confined, rather moist, and warm atmosphere. 



Lantana. Low-growing, semi-tropical shrubs, producing pink, yel- 

 low and orange colored flowers in great profusion. Cultivated ex- 

 tensively for bedding out in summer. The plants grow rapidly, and 

 are very showy when planted in masses. Propagated by cuttings in sand 

 under glass. 



JLarix (Larch, Tamarack). Deciduous, coniferous trees, thriving best 

 in swamps, or cold, moist climates. Valuable timber trees. Native of 

 North America, Europe and Japan. Species propagated by seeds, which 

 should be kept dry over winter, and sown early in spring in a finely pre- 

 pared seed-bed, the seed to be but lightly covered with sand, or light, 

 fine leaf-mold. The young plants should be shaded, either with lath 

 screens, or with branches of trees, until they are two or three months old, 

 as they are liable to be burned off by the hot, scorching rays of the sun 

 in our climate. The seedlings may remain in the seed-bed until two 

 years old, and then transplanted into nursery rows early in the spring. 

 Varieties and rare species are propagated by veneer graf ting under glass 

 in August, or by cleft and splics grafting early in spring in the open ah'. 

 The former mode is preferable, and the most certain. (See Stocks, 

 Chapter XVIII.) 



Laurus (Laurel, Bay Tree). The natural order Lauracece contains 

 about fifty genera, and an immense number of species. The Cinnamon, 

 Camphor tree, Sassafras, Spice Bush, Sweet and Red Bay, are all 

 familiar plants of this great family. In Europe the Bay tree (L. nobilis) 

 is the shrub usually referred to under the name of Laurel, while in this 

 country the shrubs called Laurels do not belong to the Laurel Family. 

 The Laurel or Bay tree of Southern Europe, and its varieties, is some- 

 times cultivated here in conservatories for their highly perfumed foliage. 

 Propagated by cuttings of the half-ripened wood. 



Ligustrum (Prim, Privet). Ornamental evergreen and deciduous 

 shrubs from Europe and Asia. The common European Privet (L. vul- 

 garc), is quite hardy in the Northern States, where it is often planted for 

 ornamental hedges and screens. Some of the Chinese and Japanese 

 species are hardy, if given a slight protection during the winter months. 

 All the species are readily propagated by cuttings planted in the open 

 ground, or under glass. 



Limonta. Evergreen trees and shrubs of the Citrus Family, requir- 

 ing the same treatment and culture as mentioned for Citrus. 



