38 IN A GLOUCESTERSHIRE GARDEN 



low bush so densely covered with brilliant scarlet 

 flowers that in some places it would be hard to put 

 a pin between them. This dense flowering is one 

 peculiarity of the Pyrus Maulei, a plant which has 

 almost a sad history. It was introduced from Japan 

 about twenty years ago by Mr. Maule of Bristol, who 

 was so struck with the abundance and beauty of the 

 golden little quinces, that he gave up many acres to 

 its cultivation ; but the results were to him in every 

 way disastrous, and even hastened his death. With 

 the Pyrus japonica I associate another beautiful shrub, 

 also from Japan, but very different in habit and colour. 

 This is the Forsythia suspensa, a shrub which grows 

 to the top of my house, and is now covered with 

 long pendent branches, many more than a yard long, 

 thickly set with bright yellow flowers. This, too, is 

 very easy of cultivation, but is not often seen ; yet it 

 is very useful for cut flowers, for the long sprays can 

 be cut while still in bud, and will come out well in 

 water. The red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguimum) is 

 another old favourite, now in full flower, though it 

 has great beauty even before that, when the branches 

 are studded with the bright red bracts within which 

 the flowers are hid ; of this, too, there are white and 

 double varieties that make handsome spring shrubs. 

 The almond-tree is in flower in several gardens, and 



