402 breck's new book of flowers. 



it makes a handsome fancy hedge. The species are all 

 easily propagated from suckers. 



B, AquifoHum. — Holly-leaved Barberry, Mahonia. — 

 This is an elegant evergreen shrab, three or four feet 

 high, with clusters of yellow flowers, in May or June, 

 succeeded by bunches of blue berries. The leaves are 

 compound, with somewhat prickly points, very glossy 

 green, inclining to purplish-brown, and, in those that are 

 young, various shades of crimson and purple, giving the 

 plant a very rich appearance. The foliage remains in per- 

 fection during the winter, where screened from the sun 

 by trees, or covered with snow or straw. In autumn the 

 foliage is very gay, as on the same plant there will be 

 bright-green, purple, browm and crimson leaves. 



BUXUS.-Box. 



[The ancient Greek name.] 



BUXUS semp^rvirens. — Garden Box. — This is a delicate 

 shrub, which may be pruned to any shape to please the 

 fancy. It is an evergreen, and easily propagated by cut- 

 tings. It is in general use, and the best material for 

 forming edgings to beds, walks, and grown singly, will 

 make large shrubs in some locations. It is necessary to 

 2)lant Box for shrubs in a shady place, and they will gen- 

 erally require to be matted in the winter. There are va- 

 rieties with yellow and white strij^ed leaves, called the 

 gold and silver striped. There are a number of species, 

 among which are the Dwarf and Tree Box. The last 

 kind is suitable for the shrubbery, as it will grow and 

 thrive well under the drip of trees. Tlie Box is a native 

 of most parts of Europe. It is one of the most useful 

 of evergreen shrubs, not only for its beauty and adapta- 

 bility in the garden for edgings, but the Tree Box is valu- 

 able for various mechanical i)urposes. 



