MY SHRUBS 



29 



the Esterelles, and came home in a matchbox. Now its silver- 

 grey, tormentose foHage and purple flowers are an addition to a 

 rock border. The true C. ladanijerus, or gum cistus, is still the 

 finest of the genus, and the true C. purpureus is also splendid. A 

 tiny gem still too rare is C. Alyssoides with bright yellow blossoms. 



Chimonanthus fragrans, from Japan, has made huge bushes here, 

 and its leafless boughs, covered with most fragrant yellow and 

 purple flowers in January are welcome. Spikes a yard long can 

 be picked without hurting these splendid growers, and I am safe 

 in asserting that Winter-sweet should be upon the south wall of 

 every dwelling-house. Chionanthus virginica^ the fringe flower, 

 as yet has not responded to my care. I have grown it for years 

 and never seen a bloom — probably because it was too dry. Peat 

 and a cool corner seem indicated. C. retusus is a splendid new 

 variety. 



Citharexylum quadr angular e^ the Lyre-wood, a desirable ever- 

 green with sweet white flowers, perished here during a mild 

 winter, and perhaps is not even half-hardy. Yet again Dorset 

 has been quoted as flaunting a fine specimen. Therefore it shall 

 be attempted once more. No Devon man will be outdone by 

 Dorset without a struggle. I am trying C. bessonianum now, and 

 have bloomed this lilac-flowered shrub successfully in a young 

 state. The flower-spikes are very trifling. 



But I have missed Cerasus, and must hark back to a special 

 treasure from Japan. Cerasus solfatara is a rare gem — a hardy 

 cherry, with most delicately-tinted blossoms of pale lemon and 

 rose and green. Nothing can be more beautiful than its delicate 

 umbels among the young amber-coloured leaves. You shall also 

 find it under the name of C. lutea. C. ilictfoliay which I 



