222 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



admired, sought after, and introduced into nearly every pleas- 

 ure-ground in Belgium. 



" The varieties of this handsome genus are very numerous, 

 and have been raised in a short period. Twenty years since, 

 there were only a very few moderate species, having small, 

 insignificant flowers." Now there are many varieties, with 

 brilliant flowers, in large clusters, continuing through the 

 month of June. The colors are white, yellow, orange, scarlet, 

 and pink, with every intermediate shade. 



Notwithstanding the exceeding beauty of this tribe of 

 shrubs, and their perfect hardiness, they are rarely to be seen 

 in our gardens. 



Azaleas require a moist, peaty soil, or black, sandy loam, 

 and rather shady situation. Plants may be freely raised from 

 seed, or from layers and suckers. 



If taken from the woods, the best way is to cut them off 

 close to the ground. They will throw up numerous shoots, 

 and form fine healthy plants. 



BERBEEIS. 



Barberry. 



Many of the species are cultivated in the gardens of Europe, 

 on account of the beauty of their fruit, flowers, or foliage. 



Some few species are known among us, but none prettier 

 than our common Barberry, or Berberis vulgaris. This shrub 

 is too common in the vicinity of Boston ; but where it is not 

 found growing in such profusion, it will most assuredly be 

 found a valuable addition to the shrubbery. 



" Every one who is an observer of nature, must have been 

 struck, in June, with the beauty of the arching, upper shoots 

 of the barberry, springing from a mass of rich green, and sus- 

 taining numerous, pendent racemes of splendid yellow flowers. 

 It is hardly less attractive when its blossoms have been sue- 



