The Laurels 



its large, oval, dark green leaves, and schipkaensis 

 for its narrow foliage. Varieties are known with 

 variegated and malformed leaves, but they are of 

 no decorative value. The leaves of the " Common 

 Laurel " have sometimes been used for flavouring 

 purposes in mistake for those of the " Bay Laurel " 

 with disastrous results for they contain prussic 

 acid. 



The Portugal Laurel. This, Prunus lusitanica, 

 like the foregoing plant is included in the 

 Laurocerasus group of the genus Prunus. It is 

 found in Spain and Portugal, and grows into a 

 large bush, sometimes 20 feet high and as much 

 across, with a trunk a foot or so in diameter. It 

 is really less striking than the " Common Laurel," 

 but is well worth growing, its oblong leaves being 

 very dark in colour, against which the racemes 

 of white flowers during early summer contrast 

 admirably. There are varieties known under the 

 names of azorica, coriacea, myrtifolia, ormstoni- 

 ensis and variegata. Of these myrtifolia, with 

 small leaves and compact habit, and ormstoniensis 

 with larger leaves than the type, are the most 

 distinct. The "Portugal Laurels" are bad 

 subjects to transplant ; the best time to perform 

 the work is May or September, and intending 

 planters should be contented by procuring small, 

 young specimens not more than 2 or 2 J feet high, 

 for if cajoled into purchasing large, old plants 

 they will probably lose five out of six. 



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