EVERGREENS 67 



gardens of small or medium size. The varieties of the 

 Common Laurel (Cerasus Lauro-cerasus) are useful for 

 planting on the boundaries of the gardens, at the back 

 of the shrubberies, and in small plantations between the 

 trees. They will grow in all kinds of soil, and require 

 no special attention except a little pruning annually to 

 keep them neat and compact, and they should be done 

 with a knife, as when shears are used the leaves are 

 mutilated and the plants disfigured. The best varieties 

 are C. L.-c. colchica and C. L.-c. rotundifolia. 



The Portugal Laurel (C. lusitanica) has dark green 

 leaves and is useful for the middle row of the border, 

 and is attractive grown in standard form on the lawn. 



LIGUSTRUM OR PRIVET. The privets are useful for 

 the formation of neat hedges, and the best for this pur- 

 pose is Ligustrum vulgar e sempervirens. There are several 

 of a highly ornamental character, the most noteworthy 

 of these being L. japonicum macrophyllum, which has large 

 green leaves. 



OLEARIAS. These are neat dwarf-growing shrubs with 

 greyish leaves, and producing a profusion late in summer 

 of white daisy-like flowers. They are not particular 

 as to soil and situation, and thrive in smoky districts. 

 They can be propagated by means of cuttings of firm 

 wood in autumn. Oleara Haasti, and O. stellulata are 

 both highly meritorious. 



QUERCUS OR OAK. The evergreen oaks form in 

 their earlier stages large compact shrubs, and at a more 

 advanced period neat round-headed trees of medium 

 size. The common form is, by reason of its dense habit, 

 valuable for planting on the margin of the garden for 

 the purpose of screening the inmates from winds from un- 

 desirable quarters. These oaks present the most attrac- 

 tive appearance grown as single specimens on the lawn. 



The finest of the evergreen oaks for gardens are : 

 Q. acuta, Q. cuspidata, Q. glabra and Q. serrata, all of 



