THE BEST SHRUBS. 119 



thrifty and bears shearing. The species mostly grown 

 are L. vidgare and L. ovalifolium. 



Lilac (Botanically Syringa).—T\\Q lilacs are old 

 and never-to-be-forgotten favorites. They are capable 

 of mncli greater beauty than is usually realized. They 

 should be kept cut back to a reasonable bight, the old 

 wood thinned out, and a fresh, vigorous growth kept up 

 by liberal manuring. The fine new varieties, with mag- 

 nificent large single or double flowers in numerous 

 extremely rich colors, offer a chance for many new expe- 

 riences with these old favorites. Sometimes tlie finer 

 varieties may be successfully grafted upon old, estab- 

 lished plants which give inferior blossoms. 



LoNicERA TARTARicA, Busli Honcysucklc. — A very 

 common and very useful shrnb. A profuse bloomer. 

 Very hardy. Four to eight feet. 



My RICA Gale, Sweet gale, and Myrica asplenifolia, 

 Sweet Fern, are well known, small native shrubs which 

 add very much to certain effects when judiciously set in 

 small masses in the shrubbery border. 



pHiLADELPHus, Syriuga, Mock Orange. — These 

 shrubs are most remarkable for their abundance of very 

 fragrant white flowers in spring. Like lilacs, they need 

 to be rigorously clijiped out to prevent the accumulation 

 of eld, unsightly wood. The best plan is to cut all i\iQ 

 stems back to the ground at three or four years old, or 

 even at two years old if the growth of new wood justi- 

 fies it. This keeps up a rotation of fresh, clean shoots. 

 The best species are P. grandiflorus, P, coronarius and 

 P, Gordoniarius. Six to ten feet. 



PoTENTiLLA FRUTicosA, Ciuquefoil. — A native shrub 

 Avith bright yellow flowers. Hardy and inclined to be 

 weedy in some sandy soils. Three to four feet. 



Prunus, Plums and Cherries. — Nearly all the native 

 plums and cherries are worth planting for ornamental 

 purposes. The Beach plum, Prunus 7nariHma, is one 



