SHRUBS 161 



many modern gardens alike, as a variety of shrubs well 

 chosen and well looked after. I will name a few, con- 

 fining myself to those which are in beauty in the early 

 months of the year, and excluding all that could be 

 classed either as trees or climbers. 



Where the soil is suitable there can be no difficulty 

 in making the spring garden brilliant with the rhodo- 

 dendrons ; but it is hopeless to attempt to grow them 

 in soil in which there is the slightest trace of lime. 

 But where lime is absent rhododendrons should be 

 grown freely, both the European and American forms, 

 in their many varieties, and, in the south of England, 

 the grand Himalayan forms. 



Where the rhododendron will grow, the azaleas and 

 kalmias will also grow, and the three together will 

 make a blaze of colour that is unsurpassed at any time 

 of the year ; but in the majority of gardens they must 

 of necessity be absent ; yet there are other shrubs that 

 will brighten any garden. I must pass by our native 

 gorse, in spite of its associations and beauty, to name 

 its two foreign relations, the German and Spanish 

 gorses, both very beautiful, and forming compact 

 golden bushes which keep in flower for many weeks. 

 With them I join their near allies the brooms ; not our 

 native broom, which, in spite of its rich golden colour, 

 is too straggling and untidy except in shrubberies, but 



L 



