26 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



flower heads. They should be provided with a rich 

 loam and long-established specimens be assisted with 

 liquid manure or manurial top dressings, the amount of 

 the assistance to be determined by the condition of the 

 plants, those showing signs of a decline in vigour requir- 

 ing the most liberal supplies of plant food. 



HYPERICUMS. These are useful for planting on the 

 margins of shrubbery borders and alongside woodland 

 walks, and as an undergrowth to some of the larger 

 shrubs. They will thrive in any ordinary loam, that 

 which contains a liberal percentage of sand being prefer- 

 able. They are readily increased by division and also by 

 means of cuttings of moderately firm shoots inserted in 

 pots filled with sandy soil, and placed in an unheated 

 frame. 



A large selection is not required for any one garden, 

 and of the comparatively large number in cultivation 

 preference should be given to Hypericum aureum, H. 

 calycinum, H. elatum, H. floribandum, H. hircinum, H. 

 Moserianum, and H. patulum. These are all of lowly 

 growth, and have flowers of various shades of yellow. 



INDIGOFERAS. Although large numbers of species of 

 Indigoferas are known to science, but few are sufficiently 

 hardy to be grown in the open in this country. Those 

 that may be so cultivated are of somewhat straggling 

 habit, and are better suited for walls, pillars and wood 

 fences than for the border. They will thrive in a rather 

 light and moderately rich soil, and require but little 

 attention beyond thinning out the old and training in the 

 new growths as occasion requires. 



All the species have pea-shaped flowers, which are 

 produced in neat racemes. Indigofera decora is a pretty 

 Chinese species with rose-pink flowers, but it is too 

 tender to be grown in the open. /. decora alba, a charm- 

 ing variety with long racemes of white flowers is much 

 hardier and may be successfully grown in the southern 



