28 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN, 



well in confined neighbourhoods. It will grow from 

 layers, and cuttings will do if they are kept moist and 

 shaded. 



The Sweet Bay is an evergreen shrub which should 

 find a place in every garden. It likes a sheltered 

 situation ; but when a fine tree is killed down to the root 

 by frost, hopes of it need not be given up too readily, 

 for I have known old roots spring up again when the 

 trees have seemed quite dead. It is very ornamental, 

 from its beautiful deep green. It is best propagated 

 by layers. 



The Kalmia is a handsome evergreen from North. 

 America, producing beautiful red flowers in June. It 

 may safely be grown in the open air. It thrives best in 

 sandy peat, but it will do in sandy loam and leaf-mould. 

 It may be grown from cuttings of the young shoots, 

 planted in sandy peat, and placed under a hand glass, in 

 shade, from layers made at the end of summer, or from 

 seed sown in shallow pans of sandy peat, covering the 

 seed very thinly, and keeping the pans in a close frame. 

 While quite small the seedlings should be pricked out 

 three to each pot, and planted out the following spring. 

 Kalmias are nice plants for early forcing. 



The Hibiscus Syriacm, or Althceafrutex, is an old- 

 fashioned, but beautiful hardy shrub, producing abun- 

 dance of handsome flowers in summer. There are white f 

 double white, purple, double purple, red, and variegated. 

 They require an open sunny situation, and are chiefly 

 propagated from seed, but the double ones by layers, 

 and by cuttings of ripe shoots, placed under a hand 

 glass in autumn, and kept covered through the winter. 

 They may likewise be grafted. They will do in common 

 garden soil. 



The Syringa, English Orange, or Philadelphus, is well 

 known, from the scent of its pretty white flowers being 

 like that of the orange blossom. Although 'it is com- 

 monly called syringa, it is in no way related to the lilac. 

 It is quite har'dy, and not at all particular, growing near 

 London, and under the drip of trees. It may be propa- 

 gated by seed, layers, cuttings, or division of the root. 



