PRUNUS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



PRUNUS. 



within bounds, and their hungry roots prevent 

 the cultivation of better things anywhere near. 

 Several varieties are in cultivation, the best of 

 which are colchica, caucasica, and rotundifolia, 

 all with broader, larger leaves than the common 

 Laurel and preferable to it on account of their 

 hardier constitution. Salicifolia, angustifolia, 

 and pai"uifolia are narrow-leaved varieties, the 

 last being often grown under the name of 

 Hartoghia capensis. A new variety from the 

 Shipka Pass (shipkaensis) is said to be the 

 "hardiest of all. 



P. LUSITANICA (Portugal Laurel). A noble 

 evergreen rarely seen in its full beauty, because 

 it is nearly always choked with other things in 

 the shrubbery. It is as a group, and allowed 



Pruntis Japonica. 



full freedom of growth, that its value both 

 as a winter and summer shrub is seen, though 

 like the Cherry Laurel it is often over-planted. 

 Var. myrtifolia has smaller leaves than the 

 common forms, and its branches are of more 

 erect growth. Being dwarfer, it is also better 

 suited for shrubberies. Var. azorica has much 

 larger leaves, and fewer but larger flowers on 

 the raceme. Spain, Portugal, and the Azores. 

 P. MAHALEB (the Mahaleb). None of the 

 European Cherries surpass this in its springtide 

 beauty. The Mahaleb is a native of Central 

 and Southern Europe, perfectly hardy in 

 England. Reaching a height of 20 ft. to 30 

 ft. , of free graceful growth ; especially is this 

 the case with the variety pendula, which, al- 

 though not strictly weeping, is of looser, laxer 



habit than the type. The leaves are each 2 in. 

 long, and the pure white flowers appear in 

 rather flat racemes in May. 



P. MARITIMA (American Beach Plum). A 

 very handsome bushy shrub, new to British 

 gardens. Its beauty is the great profusion of 

 its early flowers, but the purple or yellow 

 fruits, covered with a dense bloom, are hand- 

 some and edible, though rather small. A good 

 kind for sandy shore lands. 



P. MUME. Under the hands of the Japan- 

 ese cultivators this has varied into numerous 

 forms, and there are now at Kew varieties 

 with flowers red and white, single and double, 

 as well as one of pendulous habit. The wood 

 resembles that of the common Apricot. The 

 plant is leafless at the time of flowering. It 

 has been in cultivation for some years both 

 here and on the Continent, but disguised under 

 other names, one of which is Prunus Myro- 

 balanafl. -roseis. Corea. 



P. NANA (the dwarf Almond). This, a 

 native of Southern Russia, is one of the dwarf- 

 est of the Almonds, being from 2 ft. to 5 ft. 

 high. It flowers during March and April 

 when the leaf-buds are only beginning to 

 burst, the flowers being of a lively rose colour 

 and about three-quarters of an inch across. 

 The leaves are narrow, smooth, dark green, 

 and glossy. It is a charming shrub, and can 

 be easily and quickly propagated by layering. 

 The species will thrive in a dry situation better 

 than most Almonds. There is a pretty double 

 form. 



P. PADUS (the Bird Cherry). This beautiful 

 tree, a native of Britain as well as of North 

 and Central Europe and Asia, is often 40 ft. 

 high, the flowers borne in drooping racemes, 

 in the commonest form being 4 in. to 6 in. 

 long. There are varieties, however, finer both 

 in the flowers and racemes. A double-flowered 

 variety (flare-plena) recently obtained from the 

 Continent is the most striking I have seen. 

 A variety also worth special mention is the 

 Manchurian one (P. Maackii], with fine 

 racemes, but chiefly notable for coming into 

 flower early in April, and therefore long 

 before our Bird Cherry is showing a bloom. 

 There are other named varieties in cultivation, 

 the most distinct being var. stricta, with quite 

 erect racemes. Var. aucub&folia has its foliage 

 mottled with yellow. The common Bird 

 Cherry is a tree rather for the park and wood- 

 land than the garden proper, but the Man- 

 churian and double-flowered varieties fully 

 deserve a place among flowering trees. 



P. PENDULA (Rose-bud Cherry). A beauti- 

 ful Japanese Cherry and one of the earliest to 

 come into flower, commencing usually towards 

 the end of March. Its pendent growth has 

 led to its being commonly worked on stocks 

 5 ft. to 6 ft. high, but it comes true from seed. 

 The leaves are much like those of the common 

 Cherry, the flowers of a lovely shade of soft 

 rose and borne in profusion. In the United 

 States, where the summers are much hotter, it 

 thrives better than in England, and it should, 

 if possible, be planted in a sunny spot sheltered 



