190 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



THE HARDY SHRUBS OF THE SOUTH. 



BY ANDREW GRAY, SAVANNA, GA. 



In my present communication I shall confine myself chiefly 

 to a short notice of our hardy shrubs ; but in doing so I do 

 not mean to trouble you with a minute description of them, 

 as I deem that trite and unimportant ; all or nearly all being 

 fully described in the botanical or gardening works of the 

 country. What I presume will most interest your readers 

 will be to know what constitute our hardy shrubs. 



The Camellia. — I shall commence with the Camellia, as, 

 all things considered, it is certainly the most beautiful and 

 elegant of the collection. The plant is perfectly hardy, but 

 the blooms will not stand the frost, and even the buds are 

 destroyed by a severe frost, say 18°, causing the petals to 

 loose their hold on the receptacle ; they are also liable to be 

 bruised with the wind and rain, and but seldom do we pro- 

 cure as fine flowers as when grown under glass ; but then 

 imagine a plant eight feet high and eight feet in diameter, with 

 sometimes 150 blooms on it, in January, growing in the open 

 ground, in the midst of neighboring shrubs, almost divested of 

 their foliage, and you have an object worthy the admiration 

 of the connoisseurs of beauty and perfection. 



Magno^lia fusca^ta is a most magnificent shrub, perfectly 

 hardy and grows rapidly : we have it eight ft, high and as much 

 in diameter at the base, forming a sort of pyramid. In March 

 and April it bears a profusion of flowers close on the young 

 wood, and consequently do not appear above the foliage, but 

 emit an agreeable odor resembling the smell of the fruit of 

 the banana. In fact it is here known by its lady admirers as 

 the Banana shrub. 



PiTTOspo^RUM TOBi^RA, a wcll kuowu dcuizen of the green- 

 house and conservatory; stands our severest winters with per- 

 fect impunity; growing almost to a tree. Its fine dark green 

 foliage renders it a very desirable plant for the south, and is 

 admirably adapted for hedges and for forming groves, as it 

 stands cutting in well, and is also of a spreading habit. 



