Holly, Yew and Box 



can be propagated easily and procured cheaply, 

 caused people to use it at every turn whether in 

 or out of keeping with the surroundings and 

 without thought as to its ultimate suitability for 

 those positions. Thus whole shrubberies were 

 planted with the one thing, and as the plants grew 

 out of bounds they were regularly clipped back, 

 thus destroying the natural outline of the shrub. 

 Such effects were certainly deplorable, but the 

 same shrub grown in a natural way is a very 

 different object. When placed singly with plenty 

 of room for development the " Common Laurel " 

 forms a bush 16 or 18 feet high, and more across, 

 with large, leathery, deep green leaves and 

 axillary inflorescences 4 or 5 inches long of white 

 flowers, which are succeeded by deep purple or 

 black fruits. The accompanying illustration is of 

 such a plant, but unfortunately the photograph 

 could not be taken when the plant was in flower. 

 P. Laurocerasus is a native of Eastern Europe 

 and the Orient, and in addition to the type a 

 number of varieties are known which differ in 

 size of foliage and stature. The best of these 

 are : caucasica, colchica, compacta, latifolia, 

 magnolisefolia, Otinii, rotundifolia, schipkaensis, 

 versaillensis. 



The variety magnolisefolia is a very vigorous 

 grower with large leaves ; it can, with a little 

 training be induced to assume a tree-like habit 

 with a fair-sized trunk. Otinii is remarkable for 



264 



