178 HARDY ORNAMENTAL 



S. RUBELLA (China, 1874) is another member of the 

 family that has greenish-white, sweet-scented flowers and 

 pinky buds, and which, when better known, will be largely 

 planted. 



All the Skimmias succeed in good yellow loam to which 

 a dash of peat has been added, and in a cool, shadyish 

 situation. 



Smilax (Smilacineae). 



SMILAX ASPERA. The Prickly Ivy. South Europe, 

 1648. A trailing-habited shrub, with prickly stems, 

 ovate, spiny-toothed, evergreen leaves, and rather un- 

 attractive flowers. There are other hardy species from 

 North America, including S. Bona-nox (better known as 

 S. tamnoides, 1739), S. rotundifolia, and S. herbacea, the 

 first being the most desirable, and bearing greenish-white 

 flowers. S. aspera mauritanica is a hardy and beautiful 

 variety, with greenish-yellow fragrant flowers, but one 

 that is rare in cultivation, with long, wiry shoots, and well 

 adapted for wall or trellis covering. They all require 

 favoured situations, else the growth is short, and the 

 plants stunted and meagre in appearance, while for soil 

 a good sandy loam is preferred. 



Solatium (Solanaceae), 



SOLANUM CRISPUM. Potato-tree. A native of Chili, 

 1824, and not very hardy, except in the coast regions of 

 England and Ireland. It grows stout and bushy, often in 

 favoured places rising to the height of 12 feet, and has 

 large clusters of purple-blue fragrant flowers that are 

 succeeded by small white or yellowish-white berries. This 

 is a decidedly ornamental shrub that should be cultivated 

 wherever a suitable place can be spared. It bears hard 



