296 



ARBORETUM ET FIIUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 



those of the species, and a more dwarf-growing plant. A very dis- 

 tinct variety, which seldom, if ever, flowers. In some nurseries, it is 

 called Hartogza capensis, though this latter is a totally different plant. 



The common laurel, though it will grow as high as the Portugal laurel, is, 

 in its habit, decidedly a shrub, though it is occasionally seen trained to a 

 single stem as a low tree, and in France it is grafted standard high on the 

 common cherry for this purpose, though such plants, from the stock being 

 deciduous, only last a year or two. The growth of the common laurel is 

 rapid for an evergreen, being at the rate of from 1 ft. to 3 ft. a year ; but, as 

 the shoots extend in length, they do not increase proportionately in thick- 

 ness, and hence they recline; so that plants with branches 30 or 40 feet in 

 length, though gigantic in size, still retain the character of prostrate shrubs. 

 Notwithstanding the rapid and vigor- 

 ous growth of this plant in ordinary 

 seasons, it suffers a great deal more from 

 very severe frosts than the Portugal 

 laurel, and is sometimes killed down to 

 the ground, which the latter rarely is 

 in England. In Britain, the common 

 laurel is considered one of the most or- 

 namental of our evergreen shrubs ; and it 

 is also used for covering walls, and for 

 hedges, to afford shelter ; for which last 

 purpose it is extensively used in the 

 market-gardens about Isleworth. It is 

 also extensively used as undergrowth 

 in sandy soil. Laurel leaves have a 

 bitter taste, and the peculiar flavour of 

 prussic acid, which is common to bitter 

 almonds, and to the kernels generally 

 of the ^4mygdaleae. The flowers have 

 a similar flavour; and the powdered 

 leaves excite sneezing. The leaves, in 

 consequence of their flavour, are used 

 in a green state in custards, puddings, blancmange, and other culinary and 

 confectionary articles, but always in very small quantities. Any soil tolerably 

 dry will suit the common laurel ; but, to thrive, 

 it requires a sheltered situation, and a deep free 

 soil. It thrives better as an undergrowth than, 

 perhaps, any other ligneous plant, with the excep- 

 tion of the box and the holly. 



485. C. Lauroolrasus. 



30. C. CAROLINIA'NA Michx. 

 Bird-Cherry Tree. 



The Carolina 



Identification. Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 285. ; Lois, in N. 



du Ham., 5. p. 5. ; Don's Mill, 2. p. 516. 

 Synonymes. Prtinus caroliniana Ait. Hort. Kew 2 p 163 



P. sempervlrens Willd. Enum. j Padus caroliniana Mill Diet 



No. 6. ; Wild Orange, Amer. 

 Engravings. Michx. Arb. d'Amer., 3. t. 7. ; and our Jig. 486. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Evergreen. Leaves, with the 

 petiole short; and the disk lanceolate-oblong, 

 mucronate, even, rather coriaceous, mostly 

 entire. Flowers densely disposed in axillary 

 racemes, that are shorter than the leaves. 

 Fruit nearly globose, mucronate. (Dec. Prod.) 

 An evergreen shrub or low tree; in England 

 a tender shrub. North America, from Carolina 

 to Florida, and the Bahama Islands. Height 



