104 LAWN SHRUBS [CH. 



great abundance of bright cherry-like festoons lighting 

 up the landscape. Later in the year I found that 

 they had produced very beautiful and delicious apple 

 jelly. 



Apples and Crabs are, however, only one branch of 

 a most attractive family, which embraces Medlars and 

 Double Cherries, Almonds, Quinces, and Plums. The 

 Thorns (Crat&gus) are another branch. There are dozens 

 of Hawthorns as good as our own beautiful May, and 

 some of them flower much later, and so lengthen out the 

 early summer. 



When a rapid growth of effective shrubs is needed, 

 there are few things so satisfactory as the Golden-leaved 

 Elder ; in one summer it will grow 6 feet high, and 

 may be cut back without injury at any time indeed 

 the deep colouring can often be kept up only by pruning 

 the shoots in winter to within a few inches from where 

 they started the previous spring. 



Kerria Japonica is a very old favourite in cottage 

 gardens. There are single and double varieties. It is a 

 profuse bloomer, being covered in April with rosettes of 

 showy golden flowers. 



The Quercus rubra, aurea, and coccinea are Oaks of 

 very beautiful foliage, both in spring and autumn. But 

 for brilliancy of colouring, combined with the delicacy of 

 the finely cut foliage, there are few hardy trees that 

 can rival the newer sorts of Japanese Maple. They are 

 of low growth, and invaluable for gardens of limited 

 extent. 



