240 PRUNUS 



under glass. Out-of-doors they are seen to best advantage planted against 

 a south wall, where the flowering shoots should be pruned back almost to the 

 older wood as soon as ever the flowers are faded. But they are also very 

 delightful in the open ground. They can be propagated by cuttings, but 

 layers prove more satisfactory as a rule. 



P. LAUROCERASUS, Linnaeus. CHERRY LAUREL. 



(Laurocerasus officinalis, Roemer^) 



An evergreen shrub of quick growth and wide-spreading habit, attaining 

 a, height of over 20 ft., twice as much in width ; young shoots pale green and, 

 like all other parts of the plant, devoid of hairs or down. Leaves of leathery 

 texture, dark shining green, of various shapes and sizes, usually oblong, but 

 sometimes oblanceolate ; averaging from 4 to 6 ins. in length by rather less 

 than one-third as much wide ; margin obscurely toothed ; stalk about \ in. 

 long. The blade always bears on its lower surface near the base two or more 

 glands. Flowers in axillary and terminal racemes, 3 to 5 ins. long, f in. 

 through ; each flower on a stalk \ in. long, itself dull white, \ in. across. 

 Fruit black-purple, about in. long, conical, and containing a similarly 

 shaped stone. 



Native of E. Europe and Asia Minor ; introduced, according to Alton, in 

 1629. It flowers in April, nearly two months in advance of the Portugal 

 laurel, but is not so ornamental. For some strange reason the cherry laurel 

 is rarely seen at its best, which is when it is grown as an isolated specimen 

 unmolested by the pruner. It then makes a vigorous evergreen of exceptional 

 elegance. It bears pruning well, however, and is, in consequence, often 

 used to form a low covering for banks and slopes by keeping it severely 

 cropped. This may have been necessary in earlier times when dwarf ever- 

 greens were scarcer, but there are several now that may be made to serve 

 such a purpose without having to undergo the periodical mutilation to which 

 laurels are subjected. Still less is it adapted for planting in ordinary 

 shrubberies, where its vigorous self-assertion and hungry roots give little 

 chance for things near it. 



The cherry laurel does not appear to be quite so hardy as the Portugal 

 laurel, although on dry soil it is not much injured by any temperature above 

 5 F. It is admirably adapted for planting as undergrowth in thin woodland, 

 where there is room for its full development. All the forms are easily 

 increased by late summer cuttings placed in gentle heat. A considerable 

 number of varieties are now offered by nurserymen, some of garden origin, 

 some natural. Only the most distinct of these can be mentioned, and of 

 these very few have been authoritatively described. 



Var. ANGUSTIFOLIA. Leaves usually about 3 ins. long by i in. wide. 



Var. CAMELLLEFOLIA. Leaves of ordinary size, but -curled and twisted. 

 Curious, but not ornamental. 



Var. CAUCASICA. Leaves up to 7 ins. long, about 3 ins. wide, deep green ; 

 one of the finest. 



Var. COLCHICA. Leaves up to 7 ins. long, about 2 ins. wide, tapering to 

 the stalk. 



Var. COMPACTA. Leaves about the ordinary size, but the habit dwarf 

 and close. 



Var. MAGNOLI^EFOLIA. The finest of all the varieties in foliage, the 

 largest leaves 10 to 12 ins. long, 3 to 4^ ins. wide. A strong grower, it may, 

 if desired, be trained into tree form by tying up a lead and gradually removing 

 the lower branches. 



Var. OTINII. Leaves large and broad, but not remarkable for size so 

 much as for their dark, almost black, lustrous green ; the plant is of more 

 compact habit than most varieties. 



