MY SHRUBS 95 



in North African gardens ; but it would need much care with us 

 save in a cold house. 



Polygonum baldshuantcum is now generally grown, but not 

 always with success. It likes plenty of cool root room and its 

 head in the sun. The best I know lives in a pear tree. 



Pomaderris apetala is an Australian evergreen with trusses of 

 small yellowish flowers resembling Ceanothus. The foliage of 

 this Victorian Hazel is effective, but no great interest attaches 

 to the plant. A hard winter garnered mine, and it was never 

 renewed. 



To Protea, that glorious genus of wonderful African shrubs 

 and trees, we merely do obeisance and pass on. A cold house in 

 winter and a warm corner out of doors in summer is all they need ; 

 but I find none in cultivation in the West. P. lepidocarpon, from 

 the Cape, might be hardy here ; but I know not where that 

 wondrous shrub is to be found in England. 



In Prunus I am poor ; but possess P. Mume, a Japanese, and 

 among the first to flower. The shrub makes a good specimen, 

 and its snowy blossom appears at the end of February in a reason- 

 able winter, before the blackthorn. P. triloba^ too, I have, and 

 big pieces of P. Pissardi ; but it never sets its dark purple fruits 

 with me. From Persia comes this old favourite, and Gauntlett 

 reports a new and exquisite variety with bright double rose flowers. 

 One merely apologises to this great genus, pleads lack of space, 

 and passes on. 



Psidium, the Guava, is of course out of the question, but 

 Punica Granatuniy the Pomegranate, makes a fine show and opens 

 its wax-like scarlet blossoms generously through a hot summer. I 

 have not known it to fruit — indeed the single-flowered variety is 



