260 Ornamental Shrubs. 



one of the most valuable fruit-bearing trees under cultiva- 

 tion, and has thrown off a few double-flowering varieties 

 with blossoms marked by a beauty and delicacy not often 

 surpassed. That known as P. persica alba plena is very 

 conspicuous, producing large double white flowers at the 

 usual time of peach flowering. They appear in great pro- 

 fusion, and while they continue are always objects of ad- 

 miration. This is heightened when the tree is planted in 

 groups with others of the same character, such as P. rosea 

 plena, with its double, rich rose-colored flowers ; P. san- 

 guinea, which is much the same except that the inflores- 

 cence is more a blood-red ; and P. versicolor plena, having 

 flowers red and white, variously marked on the same tree. 

 Such a collection on the lawn or in the border, in front of 

 other shrubs and trees, can scarcely be equalled in beauty 

 and interest. There is also a charming purple-leaved 

 variety of P. persica with foliage deep blood-red in spring, 

 and becoming purple in summer. 



P. davidiana is a comparatively new plant in general 

 cultivation. It is of Chinese origin, though found later in 

 Japan and some other eastern countries, and was first 

 brought to the especial attention of the botanists by Abbe 

 David, from whom it takes its name. The plant resembles 

 the peach and apricot in its habit of growth, and may well 

 be counted a member of the same branch of the prunus 

 family. It is usually trained in bush form with slender 

 branches, and it is on those of the previous season's 

 growth that the flowers are produced. They come in very 

 early spring, are nearly or quite sessile, and in the greatest 

 possible profusion, pink and white, double, and slightly 



