Viburnum. 181 



two or three weeks, and are quite fragrant though not 

 especially beautiful. Some of the varieties are superior 

 to the type, having larger flowers and of a richer shade of 

 dark purple, while one, not yet known to cultivation, has 

 been discovered with white flowers. Though not the best 

 of the family, the species is worthy of cultivation, and in 

 some situations proves of special value. 



D. laureola. This takes its popular name of spurge- 

 laurel from its foliage ; the leaves are green, oblong, and 

 remain through the entire winter. It is a low plant 

 even smaller than cneorum, and less beautiful in flower, as 

 the blossoms are of a greenish cast and without fragrance. 

 But it is a good foliage plant, and has the quality of 

 growing in the shade, and especially under trees, better 

 than most other sorts. For such situations it serves a 

 good purpose, and may be used to advantage as one of 

 the best under-shrubs. 



VIBURNUM. 



THE viburnums constitute a genus of small trees or 

 shrubs of the natural order Caprifoliacece, repre- 

 senting about eighty species, mostly distributed 

 throughout the north temperate zone, though a few speci- 

 mens are also found in the West Indies and Madagascar. 

 Much the greater number are indigenous to America. 

 They usually have opposite branches, with undivided, 

 lobed leaves, white, terminal, tubular flowers, and seed-like 

 berries. They prefer moist places, but grow well in partial 

 shade in any good soil, though preferring a peaty substance 

 to sand or gravel. The more valuable are the following : 



