30 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



some thick-growing shrub, with beautiful dark tinted 

 foliage, producing abundance of yellow flowers in spring, 

 and later in the year clusters of bloom-covered purple 

 berries. It may be grown from seed sown in spring, 

 cuttings planted early in the autumn, or suckers. It 

 likes a deep sandy soil. The evergreen berberries are 

 sometimes called Mahonias. There are several varieties, 

 the rarer species of which are sometimes propagated by 

 grafting. 



The Andromeda is a splendid evergreen shrub, many 

 varieties of which are hardy. A peaty soil is best, 

 although some of them will do in any garden earth ; 

 drought will kill them. Some kinds flower in the spring, 

 and others in summer. To propagate them lay down 

 layers in September, and do not disturb them for a year. 

 They may also be increased from seed, sown as soon as 

 ripe, covered thinly with earth. Place the pans or pots 

 with the seedlings in a cold frame, and let them have 

 plenty of air. 



The Gdultheria is a hardy shrub, with white flowers 

 like those of the arbutus, and berry-like fruit, which is 

 good to eat. The G. procumbens grows close to the 

 ground, and flowers in July ; the G. shallon is taller, and 

 flowers in May. Both kinds like a damp situation, but 

 will grow, flower, and produce fruit in London. 



The Snowberry is a bushy shrub, producing delicate 

 tiny pinkish flowers in summer, and covered with a 

 quantity of fruit of snowy whiteness through the winter. 

 It grows in any good common soil, and is increased by 

 suckers, or cuttings planted in the autumn. 



The Halesia, or American Snowdrop-tree, is a tree in 

 its own country, but a bush with us. It will grow in a 

 poor sandy soil, by water. The flowers are white, and 

 like snowdrops, and the seed is curiously winged. The 

 trees are generally increased by layers, but they ripen 

 seed with us. 



The Cotoneaster is a pretty evergreen, with small 

 glossy foliage, which makes a nice-looking screen for any 

 low bare object. It is gay with flowers in the spring, 



