AUCUBA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



441 



mountains of South Europe. There are 

 many varieties in gardens, but probably 

 all may be reduced to some half-dozen 

 species, whilst all are beautiful. The oldest 

 is called A.purpurea. Then there is what 

 is called deltoidea, and the free-branching 

 variety of it known as Eyrei, which has 

 large violet-purple flowers. We have also 

 orandiflora, with a lax habit, a pretty 

 rock-plant. Then we have Leicktlini, 

 Mooreana, Cohtmnce, and Campbelli ; but 

 the names of the species are too numerous 

 in this family, and are often only varieties 

 from different localities. Some, like Dr. 

 Mules, Beauty of Baden and \V. Ingram, 

 are of higher value as garden plants. 



The Aubrietia is excellent as a wall- 

 plant. We need only sow the seed in any 

 mossy or earthy chinks in autumn or 

 spring, indeed they will sow themselves 

 on walls, and often bloom on the 

 sunny sides in February. Rock-gardens, 

 stony places, and sloping banks suit 

 Aubrietias perfectly. They make neat edg- 

 ings, and may be used as such with good 

 effect. There are one or two variegated 

 varieties. Aubrietias are easy to naturalise 

 in rocky places, and may be easily got 

 from seeds, cuttings, or by division. 



AUCUBA. Evergreen berry-bearing 

 shrubs of the Dogwood order, which 

 brighten gardens in winter. It is one of 

 the best shrubs for planting under trees, as 

 its strong fleshy roots enable it to live where 

 other shrubs would starve. It may be safely 

 removed at midsummer or midwinter, but 

 requires shelter and shade. To get a good 

 crop of berries, plant males about 30 ft. apart 

 among the ordinary forms. Smoke and dust 

 seem to have slight effect upon Aucubas, 

 making them valuable for town gardens. 

 The variegated form is more vigorous and 

 rapid in growth than the green or plain- 

 leaved variety, though we have now many 

 fine green forms extremely handsome 

 when in good berry. 



AZALEA (Swamp Ho7ieysnckle]. 

 These are beautiful upland and bog shrubs I 

 from North America, and, if only as a relief I 

 from the heaviness of Rhododendrons, i 

 their graceful growth is precious. There | 

 is nothing in the open garden so charm- 

 ing as old Azalea bushes in flower, with I 

 their branches in table-like tiers ; but 

 the brilliant tints always seem most effec- 

 tive in the subdued light of a shady wood, 

 and happily few shrubs flower better in 

 partial shade than Azaleas. They like 

 shelter, even from southerly winds, and 

 peaty soil suits them best, though they 

 grow well in loam. 



The hardy Azaleas, called Ghent 

 Azaleas, have sprung chiefly from the 



wild kinds of North America A. 

 nudi flora, A. calendulacea, and A. viscosa^ 

 These and A, pontica have been so 

 hybridised with the wild Azalea of South 

 Europe that we have a race in which 

 the colours of the various species are 

 blended and diversified in a great variety 

 of tints, and they all intercross so freely 

 that it is difficult to single out a variety 

 identical with any of the wild species. 

 Fifty years ago, Latin names were given, 

 to every fine variety, but they could soon 

 be numbered by the hundred from Belgian 

 gardens alone. Now very few sorts are 

 named. Every variation of tint, from the 

 most fiery scarlets to delicate pinks r 

 whites, and dark and pale yellows, is to 



Flowers of Azalea mollis. 



be had in Ghent Azaleas, a very beautiful 

 one being the pure white Mrs.. Anthony 

 Waterer. Of late years there has sprung 

 up a new race with double Hose-in-hose 

 flowers, collectively called the Narcissi - 

 flora group, the chief sorts of which 

 number about a score Graf von Meran, 

 one of the first, being still among the best 

 yellows. A California!! species, named A. 

 occidentalis^ is distinct from the deciduous 

 Azaleas, as it flowers after the others are 

 past. It has bunches of fragrant white 

 flowers and broad foliage. A. mollis, a, 

 dwarf deciduous shrub from Japan and 

 China, has given rise to a variety of 

 kinds, yellow, salmon-red, and orange 

 scarlet being the prevailing colours. It is. 

 hardy, and being dwarf may be grouped 

 as a foreground to a mass of the tall' 

 kinds. The Chinese A. amcena, with 

 small magenta flowers, common enough 

 in greenhouses, is quite hardy in rnild 

 localities and rich in bold masses. The 

 Chinese A. indica, the ordinary Azalea of 

 greenhouses, is hardy in many places, 



