DECIDUOUS FLOWERING SHRUBS 25 



freely in any good garden soil, and they should be 

 planted in positions, not too prominent in the shrubbery, 

 the second and third rows affording them the most suit- 

 able sites. 



The Japanese "Witch Hazels are the most ornamental, 

 and two of these are deserving of a place in shrubberies 

 of even moderate extent. Hamamelis arborea has attrac- 

 tive spider-like flowers, the long strap-shaped twisted 

 petals being golden yellow and revolute whorls of the 

 calyx dark red. H. japonica zuccariniana has flowers 

 similar in size and shape to those of the first-named, but 

 differing from them in the petals, being pale yellow. 



HYDRANGEAS. These are all so well known as not 

 to require much praise or description. Hydrangea hor- 

 tensis (Common Hydrangea) is unfortunately not suffi- 

 ciently hardy to be successfully grown except on warm 

 soils and in a kind climate. It is at home in the southern 

 and western counties of England and in the warmer 

 parts of Ireland, and is one of the best of seaside shrubs. 

 Where it thrives it is one of the finest of flowering 

 shrubs, being especially valuable for the wealth of colour 

 it affords in late summer. The colour ranges from rose- 

 pink to caerulean blue according to the soil, a moderate 

 amount of iron being favourable to the development of 

 the latter hue. The variety Otaksa has blue flowers, and 

 Thomas Hogg white flowers. H. paniculata grandiflora 

 is more robust than H. hortensis and its varieties, and it 

 has the great advantage of being quite hardy. It pro- 

 duces panicles pyramidal in outline, twelve inches or so 

 in length and pure white, and groups on the grass or in 

 front of the shrubbery are very effective. The panicles 

 remain in good condition for two months or more, the 

 flowers changing with age to rose-red. 



The flowers of the hydrangeas are produced on the 

 young shoots, and a moderate amount of pruning is 

 necessary to ensure strong growths and finely developed 



