THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



much to extend the knowledge of the many beautiful 

 forms, and thereby promote the development of a taste 

 for them, and assist in a material extension of their culti- 

 vation. From the following pages it will be readily 

 gathered that there is an immense variety of forms at 

 command, a variety so large as to more than suffice for 

 affording a succession of delights to those who make a 

 proper distinction in the selection of their shrubs and 

 trees between the shrubbery border and the hedgerow 

 and the dressed grounds and the rustic woodland. It 

 will be seen that there are shrubs and trees of moderate 

 and miniature growth ; forms that flower in spring, fruit 

 in summer, and that assume the most brilliant hues when 

 autumn passes her hand amongst the leaves ; forms 

 that enrich the artistically planted garden with their deep 

 tones of colour, and forms with variegated leaves that 

 light it up with their golden and grey and silvery hues, 

 and forms with leafage like lace in their lightness, and 

 that there are forms with foliage of the most massive 

 character. 



The wealth of material that was at the command of 

 planters a quarter of a century ago, and, unfortunately, 

 so indifferently utilised, has been greatly increased of 

 late years by the enterprise of British nurserymen and 

 the well-directed efforts of hybridists. During the past 

 twenty-five years a considerable number of distinct and 

 beautiful trees and shrubs have been received from 

 Japan, North America, and other parts of the world ; 

 and within the same period the shrubs remarkable for 

 the beauty of their flowers have been greatly increased 

 by the efforts of the hybridists. The lilacs, the phila- 

 delphus, and the dentzias have been enormously im- 

 proved, while hardy azaleas and rhododendrons have had 

 so many important additions made to them as to have 

 had their usefulness increased to a very appreciable 

 extent. 



