12 MY SHRUBS 



M, calif ornica flowers during May, and makes a shrub of great 

 distinction. This should ripen its fruit. 



Akebia quinata — a Japanese cHmber with a Japanese name — 

 flourishes in the south and takes kindly to some English gardens ; 

 but here the growth is feeble and the fragrant, chocolate-coloured 

 flowers are few. A. labata seems to be a sturdier plant of more 

 promise. Moreover, it blooms a month later — to its own advantage. 



Alberta magna is a handsome evergreen from Natal, with scarlet 

 trumpet flowers, like a honey -suckle. It enjoys the summer in a 

 sunny spot out-of-doors, but must retire to the cold house in October. 



Merely remarking that Albizzia would be welcome but probably 

 useless, and smiling upon Aloysia citrtodora, named after Maria 

 Louisa, mother of Ferdinand VII of Spain ; dismissing the 

 Amelanchiers also as beautiful folk of no pressing importance, we 

 may admire the dwarf almond, Amygdalyus nana, from Tartary, 

 which, a yard high and well furnished, makes a dainty shrub. 

 For two hundred and fifty years this little Russian has been 

 known in our gardens, and is still far too rare. It sets its 

 bitter fruits well when prosperous. Almonds are always desirable, 

 and I remember a plain nigh Toulon, where the flowering trees 

 spread over leagues of tawny earth. One looked down upon 

 their rosy cloud from a mountain-side with much emotion. 



Ampherephis albescens is an evergreen with pale clusters of 

 aster-like flowers, while Andrachne colchica has yet to declare itself 

 with me ; but this plant from the Caucasus possesses virtues, and 

 is quite hardy. It came from a German arboretum, and promises 

 to be a graceful shrub though the inflorescence is trifling. 



That little Laplander, Andromeda tetragona, persists in a shaded, 

 peaty corner, but cannot settle down to any great display. It 



