420 breck's new book of flowers. 



Lavender is easily propagated by cuttings or slips. It 

 is a great pity that it is not j^erfectly hardy ; but as it is, 

 with a little choice in its location, it is easily preserved 

 through the winter, and worthy of all the care and trou- 

 ble that may be given to its cultivation. 



LIGUSTRUM-Privet. 



[The ancient classical name.] 



LigUStrum VUlgare. — The common Privet, or Prim. — 

 The Privet is a native of Europe, and introduced from 

 thence to this country, and now has become domesticated 

 in many parts of New England. In England, the Piivet 

 is an evergreen, or the leaves remain until driven off by 

 new ones. In this climate it is deciduous, shedding its 

 leaves late in autumn. " In France and Great Britain, the 

 Privet is much used for a hedge plant, either alone or with 

 other plants. Its use for this purpose is recommended by 

 the beauty of the foliage, the flowers and berries, by its 

 rapid and easy growth, and by the fact that it grows well 

 under the drip of other trees, except evergreens. It flour- 

 ishes in almost any soil, as may be easily seen from the 

 variety of ground on winch it has sown itself in the vi- 

 cinity of Boston ; and it is propagated by seeds, or by 

 cuttings, and requires very littie pruning. It grows in 

 clumps, from strong, matted, bright-yellow roots, in height 

 six or eight feet. Flowers white, in short, terminal pan- 

 icles, in June ; the berries are of a shining black." The 

 blossom of the Privet, when exposed to the noonday sun, 

 withers almost as soon as blown. In the shade, it not 

 only lasts longer, l)ut is much larger. The leaves too, are 

 much larger and finer when so placed. 



The English Privet is much used for ornamental hedges, 

 and is also desirable in a shrubbery, on account of the 



