ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. VACCINIUM. 76! 



their texture being emphasised by a 

 like fragrance being emitted when they 

 are bruised. This is due to a volatile 

 oil present in such quantity that the 

 fresh - cut brushwood burns readily, 

 while from the leaves " Bay water " 

 is distilled. The fragrance becomes 

 oppressive and even dangerous in a 

 confined space, causing sneezing, head- 

 ache, and a kind of temporary paralysis 

 in extreme cases. In its own land it 

 makes a noble evergreen tree 90 to 

 100 feet high, with a trunk diameter 

 of 4, 6, or even 8 feet in rare instances 

 where the trees have endured for 

 centuries. It flourishes upon the foot- 

 hills and along the banks of water- 

 courses, growing in dense groves which 

 sometimes extend for miles, as beside 

 the Eel River in Humboldt County. 

 It is perhaps the most valuable timber 

 tree of the North Pacific Coast, where 

 its wood is in great demand for 

 furniture and house decoration. The 

 small greenish-yellow flowers appear 

 as dense clusters, followed by fruits 

 at first like a green Walnut in size 

 and appearance, turning purple when 

 fully ripe and hanging for many 

 months. Imported seed germinates 

 without difficulty. There are few 

 better seaside trees, the foliage being 

 dense and very resistant and its colour 

 distinct and good. It grows freely in 

 a dry porous soil, and in default of 

 seed may be increased by cuttings 

 taken in early summer ; but seed is in 

 every way best. Syn., Oreodaphne 

 calif ornica. 



UNGNADIA (Spanish Buckeye}. 

 U. speciosa is a slender summer-leafing 

 shrub or small tree from Texas, allied 

 to the Horse Chestnut, with glossy 

 leaves, divided like those of a Hickory, 

 and rosy flowers an inch across appear- 

 ing with the leaves in spring. The 

 fruits ripen in October, and are like 

 a smooth - skinned Chestnut - pod with 

 three lobes. Though a pretty little 

 tree, it is only suited to gardens in the 

 warmest parts of Britain. 



UNIOLA. U. latifolia is a handsome 

 perennial grass from N. America, 

 2 to 3 feet high, with a large loose 

 panicle bearing large flattened spike- 

 lets. A clump placed in rich garden 

 soil gathers strength from year to 

 year, and when well established is a 

 beautiful object. U. paniculata is a 

 taller kind which grows well upon the 

 sand of the seashore, with Oat-like 

 clusters which are very ornamental 

 when dried. 



UROSPERMUM. U. Dalechampii 

 is a rather handsome composite from 

 S. Europe, of dwarf tufted growth, with 

 large heads of lemon-yellow blossoms. 

 It thrives in an open position in any 

 light soil, growing about 18 inches 

 high, and is hardy. 



UVUL ARIA ( Bellwort] . Graceful 

 perennials allied to Solomon's Seal, 

 bearing yellow blossoms. There are 

 four cultivated species, chinensis, 

 grandiflora, perfoliata, and sessilifolia. 

 Of these grandiflora is the finest, and 

 the only one worth growing generally. 

 It attains a height of i to 2 feet, and 

 its numerous slender stems form a 

 compact tuft, with flowers long and 

 yellow, drooping gracefully, and pretty 

 in early summer. It is a good peat 

 border plant, thriving best in a moist 

 peaty soil and in shade. N. America, 

 except chinensis. Division. 



VACCINIUM (Whortleberry}. K 

 group of evergreen and summer-leafing 

 shrubs allied to the Heath family, 

 often beautiful in bloom, in fruit, and 

 in autumn colour, yet neglected in 

 gardens. The smaller kinds may be 

 planted as edgings to beds of Rhodo- 

 dendrons and other peat-loving shrubs 

 or as groups in the rock garden. They 

 will not grow in lime soils, and are 

 averse to removal, but are otherwise 

 of easy culture, and increased by 

 suckers, cuttings, or seed. Unless 

 from a good nursery where they have 

 been frequently transplanted, they 

 must be well cut in after removal. 

 Most kinds are best in partial shade 

 and in moist or boggy soil, though 

 some do well in drier and sunny places. 

 Many kinds bear good fruit of agreeable 

 acid flavour, known under various 

 popular names and valued for tarts 

 and preserves. Though now often 

 classed apart under the name Oxy- 

 coccus, the true Cranberries are in- 

 cluded here. The following are the 

 best of the hardy kinds : 



V. ARCTOSTAPHYLOS (Bear's Grape). A 

 fine summer-leafing shrub of 6 to 8 feet, 

 from the wooded mountains bordering the 

 Black Sea. It bears blush- white flowers 

 tinged with purple and reddish-purple 

 berries, and likes a damp shady place. 



V. BUXIFOLIA (Box-leaved Whortle- 

 berry) . A pretty evergreen shrub from the 

 hills of Virginia, 6 to 8 inches high, and 

 useful for edgings in a shady place. 



V. CANADENSE (Velvet-leaf). A low 

 shrub of i to 2 feet, with white flowers 

 tinged with green and red, coming just 

 before the leaves, which are soft and 



