UMBILICUS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



VACCINIUM. 



907 



tings taken in early summer, but seed is 

 in every way best. Syn : Oreodaphne 

 californica. 



UMBILICUS. See COTYLEDON. 



UNGNADIA (Spanish Buckeye). U. 

 speciosa is a slender summer-leafing shrub 

 or small tree from Texas, allied to the 

 Horse Chestnut, with glossy leaves divided 

 like those of a Hickory, and rosy flowers 

 an inch across appearing with the leaves 

 in spring. The fruits ripen in October, 

 and are like a smooth-skinned Chestnut- 

 pod with three lobes. Though a pretty 

 little tree, it is only suited to those with 

 gardens in the warmest parts of Britain. 



UNIOLA. U. latifolia is a handsome 

 perennial Grass from N. America, 2 to 3 ft. 

 high, with a large loose panicle, bearing 

 large flattened spikelets. A clump, placed 

 in rich garden soil, gathers strength from 

 year to year, and when well established is 

 a beautiful object. U. paniculata is a 

 taller kind which grows well upon the 

 sand of the sea-shore, with Oat-like 

 clusters which are very ornamental when 

 dried. 



UEOSPEEMUM. U. Dalechampii is 

 a rather handsome composite from S. 

 Europe, of dwarf tufted growth, with large 

 heads of lemon-yellow blossoms. It 

 thrives in an open position in any light 

 soil, growing about 18 in. high, and is 

 hardy. 



UVULAEIA (Bellwort). Graceful 

 perennials allied to Solomon's Seal, bearing 

 yellow blossoms. There are four cultivated 

 species, chinensis, grandiflora, perfoliata, 

 and sessilifolia. Of these grandiflora is 

 the finest, and the only one worth growing 

 generally. It attains a height of i to 2 

 ft, and its numerous slender stems form 

 a compact tuft, with flowers long and 

 yellow, drooping gracefully, and pretty in 

 early summer. It is a good peat border 

 plant, thriving best in a moist peaty 

 soil and in shade. North America, ex- 

 cept chinensis. Division. 



VACCINIUM (Whortleberry}. A 

 group of evergreen and summer-leafing 

 shrubs allied to the Heath family, often 

 beautiful in bloom, in fruit, and in autumn 

 colour, yet neglected in gardens. The 

 smaller kinds may be planted as edgings 

 to beds of Rhododendrons and other 

 peat-loving shrubs or as groups in the 

 rock-garden. They will not grow in lime 

 soils, and are averse to removal, but are 

 otherwise of easy culture, and increased 

 by suckers, cuttings, or seed. Unless 

 from a good nursery where they have 

 been frequently transplanted, they must 

 be well cut in after removal. Most kinds 



are best in partial shade and in moist or 

 boggy soil, though some do well in drier 

 and sunny places. Many kinds bear good 

 fruit of agreeable acid flavour, known 

 under various popular names and valued 

 for tarts and preserves. Though now 

 often classed apart under the name Oxy- 

 coccus, the true Cranberries are included 

 here. The following are the best of the 

 hardy kinds. 



V. ARCTOSTAPHYLOS (Bear's Grape]. A 

 fine summer leafing shrub of 6 to 8 ft. , from 

 the wooded mountains bordering the Black 

 Sea. It bears blush-white flowers tinged with 

 purple and reddish-purple berries, and likes a 

 damp shady place. 



V. BUXIFOLIA (Box-leaved Whortleberry} is 

 a pretty evergreen shrub from the hills of 

 Virginia, 6 to 8 ins. high, and useful for 

 edgings in a shady place. 



V. CANADENSE ( Velvet-leaf). A low shrub 

 of I to 2 ft., with white flowers tinged with 

 green and red, coming just before the leaves, 

 which are soft and downy. The abundant 

 blue berries are covered with bloom and very 

 sour, ripening late. The plants grow in well- 

 drained but moist peaty soil, and give fine 

 autumn colour. 



V. CORYMBOSUM (American Blueberry). 

 A spreading shrub of 8 to 10 ft., charming 

 with its small pink flowers in spring and vivid 

 leaf-tints in autumn. The fruits are good and 

 improving with cultivation, the less common 

 white and pink varieties giving pretty colour 

 effects. There are several forms amcenum with 

 bright green downy leaves, and pallidum in 

 which they are pale and glaucous. This 

 species needs a swampy peat-soil, transplants 

 well, and is easily raised from seed. V. virga- 

 tum is a southern form of this species. 



V. ERYTHROCARPUM (Bearberry) is a tall 

 slender shrub of 8 to 10 ft., with a loose habit 

 and showy fruits changing from red to deep 

 black and full of juice, but insipid and worth- 

 less. 



V. HIRSUTUM ' (Hairy Huckleberry). A 

 beautiful little shrub about a foot high, with 

 long racemes of large greenish-white flowers, 

 and dark blue hairy fruits of refined flavour. 

 In autumn the leaves turn a showy brick-red 

 colour, which endures for several weeks. The 

 plant needs sun, and a moist peaty soil. 



V. MACROCARPUM (American Cranberry). 

 A dwarf evergreen trailing shrub with its 

 long loose stems covered with oval grey-green 

 leaves, giving reddish purple, bronze, and 

 crimson tints in autumn. The rosy flowers 

 appear in June, and the ripe fruit in September 

 or October. There are many varieties, valued 

 for their fruit. Thrives best in wet peat-bogs. 

 Syn. Oxycoccus. 



V. MYRSENITES. A cheerful evergreen 

 shrub of I to 2 ft. with neat glossy-green 

 leaves, clusters of bell-shaped white flowers 

 touched with pink, and red berries ripening to 

 blue or black. Firm sandy peat, well-drained. 

 Syn. V. Sprengeli. 



