ZAPANIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



ZENOBIA. 



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greenish flowers followed in some kinds 

 by ornamental fruits. The best in 

 this way is Z. piperitum, or Japan 

 Pepper, in which the glossy black 

 berries are so abundant as to be 

 exceedingly attractive. Z. planis- 

 pinum is an interesting shrub of dense 

 growth, with glossy evergreen leaves 

 and branches covered with stout com- 

 pressed spines. Z. Bungeanum also 

 bears evergreen leaves of a cheerful 

 green, and more finely divided than 

 in planispinum. The finest kind, Z. 

 ailanthoides, a tree of 60 feet, is said 

 to be one of the most beautiful trees 

 of Japan. Increase by seeds, suckers, 

 or root- cuttings. 



ZAPANIA (Creeping Vervain). Z. 

 nodiflora is a pretty, spreading trailer, 

 with prostrate stems 2 or 3 feet in 

 length, which late in summer bear 

 small round heads of little purplish 

 flowers. Suitable for the rougher 

 parts of the rock garden, for borders 

 or edgings in free warm soil. Asia 

 and America. Syn., Lippia nodiflora. 



ZAUSCHNERIA (California^ Fuch- 

 sia}. Z. calif ornica is a bright peren- 

 nial, hardy in warm soils in sheltered 

 places, growing 12 to 18 inches high, 

 and yielding an abundance of grace- 

 fully drooping bright vermilion flowers 

 during summer and autumn. It flour- 

 ishes in sandy loam in the rock garden, 

 and grows capitally on an old wall. 

 Z. mexicana is sometimes classed as a 

 variety, but in my garden is distinct, 

 flowering later. Both grow well on dry 

 walls. California. Division. 



ZEA (Indian Corn). Z. Mays is 

 one of the noblest of the grasses that 

 thrive in our climate, almost indis- 

 pensable to our gardens, with its fine 

 appearance either isolated or associ- 

 ated with other fine-leaved plants. 

 Cuzko and Caragua are the largest of 

 the green varieties, and gracillima the 

 smallest and most graceful. The seeds 

 should be sown on a gentle hot-bed in 

 April, although they will occasionally 

 succeed out of doors. Gradually har- 

 den off the plants before they have 

 made many leaves, keeping them in a 

 cool frame near the glass, so as to keep 

 them sturdy, finally exposing them by 

 taking off the lights. 



ZELKOWA (Zelkowa Tree). Hand- 

 some summer-leafing trees, hardy, 

 distinct in appearance, and yielding 

 valuable timber, yet seldom planted. 



They grow best in moist alluvial soils, 

 and are well adapted for avenues 

 and roadsides. They do not appear 

 to bear seed in this country, and for 

 this reason are commonly increased by 

 grafting on the Common Elm, though 

 such means can never give the best 

 results in growth and beauty. The 

 fine individual trees in various parts 

 of Britain show the Zelkowa to be 

 well suited to our climate, and we 

 could wish that it was more used by 

 planters, especially for wet soils, being 

 remarkably free from insects and 

 disease. There are four kinds, as 

 follows : 



Z. ACUMINATA (Japanese Z.). A useful 

 and handsome tree of about 100 feet, 

 with a straight stem and a broad round 

 top. The leaves vary much in size even 

 on the same twig, being 3 to 5 inches long, 

 tapering to a point, i to 2^ inches wide, 

 slightly hairy on both sides, and edged 

 with coarse sharp teeth. The longer 

 points, sharper teeth, more numerous 

 nerves and leathery texture, together with 

 the fact that they hang longer, may enable 

 any one to tell the leaf of the Japan 

 Zelkowa from that of the better-known 

 Z. crenata. The timber is hard, durable, 

 and fine-grained, taking a high polish, and 

 valued for its many industrial uses. 

 Japan. 



Z. CRENATA (Common Z.). A quick- 

 growing, handsome tree of marked char- 

 acteristics, the main branches rising erect 

 from one point, and spreading so slightly 

 as to give an easily recognised form, each 

 branch a tiny tree in miniature. Mature 

 trees are 80 to 100 feet high, with a fine 

 columnar stem covered at first with smooth 

 bark like Beech or Hornbeam, though in 

 old trees it becomes furrowed and falls 

 away as in the Plane. The leaf is often 

 like that of the Elm, only smoother, more 

 glossy, and with more rounded teeth ; but 

 this character is so variable that leaves 

 like Elm, Beech, and Hornbeam may often 

 be found on the same branch. Asia Minor 

 and Caucasus. Syn., Planeva Richardi. 



ZENOBIA. Z. speciosa is one of the 

 most beautiful shrubs in the Heath 

 family, about a yard high, with small 

 roundish leaves of a pale green. In 

 the variety pulverulenta the leaves are 

 almost white and covered with a mealy 

 glaucescence ; flowers, white and wax- 

 like in form, like those of Lily of the 

 Valley, come in summer in beautiful 

 loose drooping clusters. A well-flow- 

 ered plant is charming, and lasts for 

 some weeks in beauty, thriving in a 

 peaty soil. It conies from the 

 southern United States, and is there- 

 fore not absolutely hardy. In nur- 



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