318 Ornamental Shrubs. 



feet, as does L. alpinum, which is particularly distinguished 

 as the Scotch laburnum and also has the name of golden- 

 chain. It has much the same flower as the vulgaris, and 

 is perhaps the hardiest member of the family. The 

 laburnums are natives of Europe and Asia Minor. 



CITRUS Orange. 



THE oranges are among the most interesting flower- 

 and fruit-bearing shrubs and trees, but their free 

 cultivation is limited to tropical and semi-tropical 

 climates. They belong to the order Rutacecz, and are 

 found in the genus citrus, and are distinguished for their 

 beautiful and fragrant blossoms, their attractive foliage, 

 and the peculiar habit of bearing flowers and fruit at the 

 same time. Most of the oranges are easily grown, and 

 they come to maturity as early as do the peach or apricot. 

 The citrus is thought to be the longest-lived tree in the 

 world. It is a native of the warm valleys of the Hima- 

 layas, and of Persia, where specimens of great age are 

 found, though there are no means of determining the years 

 which they may have seen. 



In the range of the Gulf States the oranges, as also 

 the lemon, are at home, though not always to be depended 

 upon in unusually severe winters. Among the varieties 

 of interest for more general cultivation and for ornamental 

 use is C. trifoliata, a native of Japan, which was intro- 

 duced into English gardens some time since, and has been 

 thoroughly tested as to its hardiness in that climate. The 

 London Garden says that in some of the southern coun- 

 ties specimens have been growing well in the open ground, 



