90 A YEAR IN A LANCASHIRE GARDEN. 



it is, but delightful in its dark foliage, its rich 

 creamy blossoms, its clusters of purple berries. 

 We do not make the use of it we should, and 

 Elderberry water and Elderberry Wine are known 

 to me by name alone, but the berries are excellent 

 for tarts and puddings. 



One shrub which I planted a year or two ago has 

 answered far better than I had any right to hope. 

 It is the Desfontainea Spinosa. It is so like a 

 holly that it puzzles everybody who sees, for the 

 first time, the scarlet and yellow tubes of blossom 

 which stand out among the prickly leaves. The 

 year before last it flowered twice with me, but the 

 cruel winter we have just had has cut it sadly, 

 and it will be long before it will recover. 



I have spoken of trying whether by the planting 

 of a second Arbutus I could make my beautiful old 

 shrub fruit. The result has been quite successful, 

 and I have had for two years past bright red 

 berries hanging down among the pale waxen blos- 

 soms and the dark-green leaves. The Magnolia 

 between the vineries has become prodigal of flowers 

 as it has grown older, and last year I had no less 

 than ten blossoms from it, and it is still young. 

 The Magnolia (also a Grandiflora) on the house 



