64 GARDEN FLOWERS. 



dinia ; 1831. B. intermedium (intermediate) ; half-hardy peren- 

 nial ; 3 inches ; flowers white, in August ; hybrid. B. minutum 

 (small) ; half-hardy perennial ; 3 inches ; flowers white, in July ; 

 ievant ; i 772. 



BERBERIS. Barberry. [Berberiaceae.] A genus of ever- 

 green and deciduous shrubs, ornamental in foliage, flower, 

 and fruit. The common Barberry (B. Canadensis) is a very 

 ornamental but neglected shrub. Although there is not a 

 shrub more decidedly shrubby, it can be formed into a 

 pretty standard. Young suckers may* be supported with 

 stakes until they run up to the height required, all their side 

 shoots being removed before they advance much in growth : 

 the top may then be taken off, and a few of the lateral 

 branches encouraged close to the top ; these, shortened be- 

 fore they grow much, cause other laterals to grow, and a 

 good head may be formed in a short time. Generally a 

 deep sandy loam is desirable. Propagated by cuttings in 

 autumn, by grafting in the case of rare sorts, and by seeds 

 where large quantities are raised. 



One group of the Berberries have been called Mahonias. 

 These are beautiful dwarf evergreen shrubs, with bright 

 shiny foliage, growing thick and rich, and bearing beautiful 

 close bunches of bright yellow flowers in the spring, suc- 

 ceeded by rich purple fruit. There is hardly a prettier set 

 of evergreens in cultivation : they afford a very striking va- 

 riety in the foliage of a mixed clump ; but, as the plants 

 feather down to the ground, there should be nothing to hide 

 them : on this account they make excellent lawn plants. 

 They bear round, bright, purple fruit, which looks as well 

 as the flowers ; and the plants, which do not grow higher 

 than three or four feet in general, and are a good while 

 reaching that height, are handsome without either flowers or 

 fruit. They are multiplied by suckers, which may be taken 



