EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS. 589 



THE KALMIA. Kalfttia. 



This evergreen shrub, also known as the American or mountain 

 laurel, in its wild state is smaller than the rhododendrons, and is 

 found from Canada to the Gulf States in rocky, shady, and moist 

 places, such as suit that shrub. It has not been hybridized and 

 improved by culture to near so great an extent as the rhododen- 

 drons, and the natives of the woods being difficult to grow into 

 thrifty shrubs in common soils and exposures, have not been much 

 used for embellishment. The indigenous varieties are : 



The Broad-leaved Kalmia. K. latifolia. — Height three to 

 six feet. Leaves thick, glossy (in the shade) long and slender. 

 Flowers in clusters, in June and July, white to red. 



The Narrow-leaved Kalmia. K. angustifolia. — Known as 

 sheep laurel. A dwarf shrub with clusters of red flowers, in June. 

 Two feet high. 



The Glaucous-leaved Kalmia. K. glauca. — An upright 

 shrub two feet high, bearing red flowers in May. 



All these species are charming shrubs where growing in con- 

 genial soil, shade, and moisture, but do not develop much beauty 

 in open situations and with common culture. 



EVERGREEN BERBERRIES. 



Some evergreen species have been introduced into England 

 which are esteemed. The following may be adapted to this country : 



Darwin's Evergreen Berberry. B. Darwini. — Described 

 (in England) as " a thoroughly hardy evergreen, with neat shining 

 dark-green foliage, and in the spring covered with deep orange-colored 

 flowers." It is on trial in our nurseries ; also the B. fieuberti. 

 Loudon mentions the sweet-fruited evergreen berberry, B. diilcis, 

 which grows in the neighborhood of the Straits of Magellan, as " an 

 elegant evergreen bush," five feet or more in height ; also some 

 Asiatic varieties which are not yet in cultivation in our nurseries, 

 and probably not of sufficient merit to warrant their culture. 



