FLOWERING SHRUBS 75 



April and May. Another suitable shrub is Weigela hortensis 

 nivea, somewhat unsatisfactory out of doors in most gardens, 

 but worthy to take high rank both for its pretty netted leafage 

 and its bouquets of delicate white flowers. For winter and 

 early spring flowering, Daphne indica is a useful shrub, con- 

 tent with a back-wall so long as it can be undisturbed at the 

 root and can have room to develop. Cantua buxifolia, a fine 

 Peruvian evergreen, bearing red pendulous flowers at the ends 

 of the branches in early summer, is suitable for clothing a 

 supporting pillar. For this purpose Cestrum (= Habro- 

 thamnus) elegans is also invaluable, flowering later in the 

 year. All these, and many others, will thrive in a light, airy 

 glass shelter in a good aspect with a minimum winter tern 

 perature kept just above freezing-point. Most of them are 

 hardy enough to live out of doors in favourable positions, but 

 the severe strain upon their endurance prevents such free- 

 flowering as we may fully expect under glass. 



It is impossible to do more than suggest plants likely to 

 succeed under cool treatment, but there are enough of all kinds 

 to suit any and every purpose the choice must be in accord- 

 ance with individual tastes and requirements. Three shrubs, to 

 use a comprehensive term, which may be found in flower in 

 many a Devonshire garden in November and December, occur 

 to mind as being well worth growing in less propitious 

 climates for the absolutely cold greenhouse. Young plants of 

 the Box-leafed Myrtle flower at a very small size, and though 

 they will grow into big bushes, are neat and compact at all 

 times. Beginning to flower in September, they go on con- 

 tinuously, often till Christmas, out of doors, until compelled 

 to give up by stress of weather. Their creamy-white flowers 

 and pearly buds are welcome indeed in a pot at that dull 

 season. About November the homely little Coronilla glauca, 

 brave and bright, begins to set about its winter work, and 

 though it cannot boast the beauty of the less known South 



