HARDY WALL SHRUBS 57 



indeed. It is suitable for covering a space of from six 

 to ten feet in height. The Fremontia is propagated by 

 seeds sown in spring under glass, or by cuttings under 

 glass at the same time. The Garrya is best appreciated 

 because of its pretty, catkin-like, drooping racemes of 

 flowers in early spring. These are greenish or yellowish 

 and the plants are unisexual, i.e. the male and female 

 flowers are on separate plants. G. elliptica is the one 

 most readily procurable and the best known in gardens. 

 It is propagated by cuttings, layers, or by seeds, the 

 first being struck in a shady place under glass in early 

 autumn. G. elliptica is hardier than is generally sup- 

 posed and does well as a bush in some localities. Prune 

 as soon as the flowering is over, removing the exhausted 

 growths and shortening long breast-wood. 



In Gordonia Lasianthus and Indigofera gerardiana 

 we have two hardy shrubs of different characters which 

 are but little met with in private gardens. The former 

 has large white flowers, about four inches across in late 

 summer and early autumn, and oblong, rather leathery 

 leaves. It likes a moist, peaty soil, and is propagated 

 by layers. The Indigofera is one of the hardiest of the 

 Indigos, and has racemes of a considerable number of 

 pale red flowers, of the Pea shape characteristic of the 

 Leguminosae. It flowers in summer, and is rather a low 

 grower. It flowers best on well-ripened wood, and the 

 growths should be cut back in autumn. Propagation is 

 performed by sowing seeds, or by striking cuttings of 

 half-ripe shoots under a glass in gentle bottom heat. A 

 rather peaty soil is preferred. On a wall, Lespedeza 

 bicolor, often cultivated as Desmodium penduliflorum, 

 looks well with its panicles of drooping rosy-purple 

 flowers. It is a good plant for a low wall or trellis, 

 and may be grown from seeds or by means of cuttings 

 in spring or summer under a glass. It prefers a peaty 

 soil. 



