38 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 



twenty-five feet when fully developed, forms a com- 

 pact roundish head, and produces in great profusion 

 medium-sized spikes of bright red flowers. Few 

 objects are more attractive when in bloom than this fine 

 tree, and it is especially adapted to the requirements of 

 suburban gardens. It commences to produce its hand- 

 some flower spikes at an early age, is comparatively 

 slow in growth, and suffers but little from atmospheric 

 impurities. The variety known as JE. rubicunda Briotti 

 has flowers deeper in colour than those of the ordinary 

 form, and is of much merit. 



The chestnuts belonging to the Pavia group are of 

 much smaller growth than the foregoing, and are 

 desirable in gardens of considerable extent. They form 

 small trees or large shrubs, ranging from eight to twelve 

 feet high, and have a neat spreading habit. The 

 flowers are borne in erect spikes at the tips of the 

 branches, and resemble in general character those of the 

 Horse Chestnut. 



The most beautiful of the species are JE. parviflora 

 (syn. Pavia macrostachya) which has long spikes of 

 fragrant white, with long stamens and red anthers, and 

 ./". pavia (syn. Pavia rubra). These two species will 

 thrive in any ordinary soil, but where the soil is light 

 and sandy they should receive a top dressing of well 

 rotted stable manure every second year, the manure to 

 be applied to the space kept free from grass, and be 

 lightly pricked in. They appear to the greatest 

 advantage when occupying isolated positions on the 

 lawn. 



AMELANCHIER OR SNOWY MESPILUS. These form a 

 small group of extremely elegant spring flowering trees. 

 The most beautiful of the species in cultivation is 

 Amelanchier canadensis, introduced from Canada about 

 the middle of the eighteenth century, and this should 

 have a place in gardens of even small size. Under 



