MY SHRUBS 59 



handsome evergreen shrub under the shelter of a wall. This lace 

 bark or ribbon wood, of New Zealand, is a fine thing, and nearly 

 hardy. The flowers are white, and appear in spring time at the 

 end of the branchlets, but the plant needs to attain some size before 

 bearing them. 



Hovenia dulcis is a rare, deciduous shrub from Japan and the 

 Himalayas, but a wall is probably the place for this choice thing 

 at home; and, until it has attained some strength and substance, 

 you will do better to keep it in a pot and winter it in a cold house. 

 I have only just procured a piece, and cannot speak as to the white 

 flowers and sweet fruit. It thrives and is much used in Australia. 



Hydrangea is also here, but this is a shrub that won't blow blue 

 with me, though H . paniculata as a half-standard is well enough. I 

 suppose one needs iron tonics to coax hydrangea blue in a limestone 

 soil ; I heard that peat would do so ; but it did not. One might 

 have thought that H. azureus from China would have come true, 

 but this turned as pink as the rest. You must see Hydrangea in 

 Cornish gardens to know its real glory and loveliest shades of azure. 



Hymenanthera crassifolia is a neat and trim New Zealander, 

 of the best constitution. The evergreen foliage is very small, and 

 the inflorescence is minute, while bright white berries cover the 

 plant during autumn. It is a good grower, and soon makes a 

 specimen for the rock- work when suited below ground. H, 

 chathamica is also in cultivation — a dissimilar plant in every 

 respect, and not, to my mind, so attractive. 



Hypericum I recognise as a most valuable and beautiful shrub 

 in its many species ; but for me it possesses no personal charm. 

 H. corisy which I collected in the South, has made a prosperous 

 little bush on a rockery. It is hardy here, and should be cut back 



