256 HARDY SHRUBS. 



and keep under cover for the Winter. They should germinate in Spring. 

 Seedlings are not as free flowering as grafted plants. The operation of 

 grafting is best performed during the first half of September, in order 

 that the union may be perfect and new roots produced by the stocks to 

 give the Spring growth a vigorous start. For stocks any of the numer- 

 ous varieties of the Chinese species may be taken; those varieties having 

 the poorest flowers should, of course, be selected for the purpose. The 

 wood taken for cions should be from the less robust part of the plant, 

 that in which the large flower buds are absent being preferred. The 

 leaves should be shortened back, and the cion attached to a good-sized 

 piece of the fleshy part of the root of the herbaceous species by the 

 easiest of the ordinary methods of grafting. Tie on with a string which 

 will not rot in the ground during Winter, as support is needed in this 

 way even after the cion has taken with the stock. The position to be 

 occupied by the grafted stocks is the most important part of the opera- 

 tion. Where the Winters are severe, a deep frame, facing north, is the 

 best place for them. In this locality they are heeled in on a sheltered 

 part of the open border, but deep enough in the soil, so that the lower 

 part of the cion is covered. A layer of decayed leaves or sphagnum is 

 kept on the surface of the soil, and the tops shaded for the first two 

 weeks. In planting insert deep enough so as to give the cions every 

 opportunity to send out their own roots. About the beginning of May 

 the graft will have made considerable growth; each one should then be 

 supported with a stick, else it is liable to become detached from the 

 stocks. Division should only be attempted with plants which are well 

 provided with short growths from the bases of the plants. 



PAULOWNIA IMPERIALIS (Empress Tree). Under favorable condi 

 tions this subject grows into a good-sized tree. During May, before the 

 leaves appear, the large panicles of bright purple gloxinia-like flowers 

 open out, making a most gorgeous appearance. A medium-sized tree will 

 ripen an almost incredible number of seeds; they are quite small and 

 need careful tending to germinate them successfully. Young plants, 

 when cut down annually, throw up very strong shoots with leaves 

 sometimes 2 feet in diameter, giving an effect not to be bad with any 

 other plant. It thrives in any soil. The Winter of 1898-1899 was 

 the first to kill the flower buds on even large-sized trees in Washington. 

 It is hardy in the North, but the flower buds, being naked, are usually 

 killed by severe frosts. 



PA VI A MACROS! ACHYA ( Smooth-fruited Horse Chestnut) This is a 



desirable shrub, growing from 3 to 9 feet high, spreading rapidly by 

 means of stoloniferous roots. It flowers in June; the flowers are white, 

 disposed in upright racemes. It is most easily propagated by division. 

 P. rubra var. purpurea blooms in a very small state; it will succeed 

 either in sun or shade. Seedlings make satisfactory blooming plants. 



PERSICA VULQARIS (Peach) The double-flowering forms are among 

 the most popular of dwarf-flowering trees. Their period of blooming is 

 during April and May, according to locality. P. v. versicolor plena has 

 the flowers either red or white on the same tree, or with both colors 

 combined in the same flower. There are double red, double rose and 



