330 SMALL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



Another little gem, of the same family, so common 

 that its beauty is not appreciated, is the Rose Acacia 

 (A. hispida). Its clustered bunches of pink pea-shaped 

 flowers are familiar to all. If trained to a single stem, 

 it makes a fine plant ; its fault is, a tendency to throw 

 up suckers, which renders it a troublesome plant in a small 

 garden. It. is, however, a favorite of ours, and we will- 

 ingly bear its fault to enjoy its beauty. Both these 

 species will bear neglect and hard treatment ; indeed, 

 they will grow in spite of you. 



A well-known and always popular shrub is the little 

 dwarf-flowering Almond (Amyydalus pumila flpV), found 

 every where, and yet, as is usually the case with our 

 best and most common blessings, not appreciated. A 

 little care would improve this plant wonderfully. It 

 flowers on the young wood, therefore the more shoots 

 we can get in the summer the more flower the next 

 spring. If, therefore, your plant is thrifty and well-estab- 

 lished, as soon as it is out of bloom cut it down to 

 the ground ; it may be hard to do it, but patience a while, 

 and before autumn you will have a fine growth of 

 young wood, which the next spring will give you profuse 

 bloom. 



