THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



Halesia tetraptera. 



HALESIA (Snowdrop Tree]. Beauti- 

 ful North American trees, hardy in this 

 country. The commonest is H. tetraptera, 

 one of the prettiest of flowering trees. It 

 grows in England from 20 to 30 ft. high, 

 has a rounded head, with sharply-toothed 

 leaves, in May bearing many pure white 

 blossoms, in form like the Snowdrop, 

 hence its popular 

 name. It is of 

 moderately rapid 

 growth, and flour- 

 ishes in any good 

 garden soil, and as 

 it grows naturally 

 by river banks, it 

 enjoys a moist, but 

 not waterlogged 

 soil. In some parts 

 it ripens its seed 

 in abundance. A 

 similar species, dis- 

 tinguished in hav- 

 ing but two wings 

 to the seed-vessel 

 (tetraptera having 

 four), is H. diptera, 

 of smaller growth, 

 and not such a suitable tree for this 

 climate ; neither is H. parviflora, which, 

 like the others, has small bell-like flowers. 

 As a lawn tree, or planted near the 

 margin of a lake or stream, H. tetraptera 

 is very beautiful. 



HALIMONDENDRON (Salt-tree} 

 H. argenteum is a small shrub belonging 

 to the Pea family, with elegant leaves, 

 silky and whitish, the flowers purplish in 

 early summer : a native of Asiatic Russia, 

 it is hardy, and grows from 5 to 6 ft. high, 

 and sometimes is grafted on to the tall 

 stems of the Laburnum. 



HAMAMELIS( Witch Hazel\Rz.r&y 

 shrubs with singular blossoms flowering 

 in winter. They have a peculiar value as 

 ornamental shrubs, and one species at 

 least is worth planting in all good gardens. 

 This is H. arborea, or Tree Witch Hazel, 

 though in this country it does not rise 

 generally above 8 ft. high. In January, 

 and sometimes before, its leafless 

 branches are covered with flowers, which 

 have twisted, bright yellow petals and 

 crimson calyces, so that a well-flowered 

 plant is very pretty. It is a hardy 

 Japanese shrub, and thrives in most kinds 

 of soil, but must have an open situation. 

 Another Japanese species is H. japonica, 

 a smaller and dwarfer plant than H. 

 arborea, and bearing flowers of a lighter 

 yellow colour, while that called H. Zuc- 

 cariniana is very similar to it. Of less 

 value perhaps is the American Witch 



Hazel, which has small yellowish flowers 

 in winter, and sometimes in autumn. 

 Though not so showy when in flower as 

 the Japanese species, it is a pretty 

 shrub, and, like the others, thrives in 

 any soil. 



HEDERA (Ivy).H. Helix is the most 

 beautiful evergreen climber of our north- 

 ern and temperate world, and is a noble gar- 

 den plant that may be used in many ways. 

 The common Ivy of the woods is familiar 

 to all, but its many beautiful varieties are 

 not so common as this. All are not of 

 the same vigorous habit, as will easily 

 be seen by cultivating a collection ; but 

 the rich self green-leaved kinds are 

 usually as free and as hardy as the wild 

 plant. Although there are many varieties, 

 there are only two accepted species the 

 Australian, that is confined to the 

 continent of Australia ; and Hedera Helix, 

 which is found wild in the British Isles, 

 and spreads over Europe, reaching into 

 N. Africa and Central Asia. It is under 

 our English Ivy that the large number of 

 forms in cultivation are classed. Although 

 there are only two species, we can classify 

 the Ivies in several groups, after the 

 variation in the leaves. If we want Ivies 

 in their fullest beauty, it is necessary to 

 pay some attention to position, soil, and 

 training. This applies to all kinds, but 

 especially to the more delicate varieties. 

 Ordinary garden soil will grow the Ivy 

 well, and the strong growers, as Emerald 

 Gem, Rasgneriana algeriensis, canariensis 

 or the Irish Ivy, sagittasfolia, lucida, 

 palmata, gracilis, dentata, digitata, pedata, 

 and angularis,will need no special position ; 

 but in the case of kinds like madeirensis 

 variegata, a showy form, some little care 

 is needed. It is better to plant these 

 kinds as edgings to a bed of shrubs or 

 permit them to clamber over a root-stump, 

 arbour, or form a pyramid of them, where 

 they will be less exposed to the full force 

 of wind than if they were stiffly trained 

 on walls. Cuttings may be struck in the 

 latter part of the summer, and quickly 

 root if put in a shady border where 

 the soil is fairly good. It is sometimes 

 well to cut the plants down to the 

 ground after the first year, as often the 

 shoots are very weak ; but this severe 

 pruning induces a stronger growth later 

 on. . As regards the best time to plant, 

 the spring months are the most suitable ; 

 but the Ivy may be planted any time 

 if it is in a pot, and during the first sum- 

 mer, if the weather is hot, give plenty of 

 water. In the case of variegated sorts, 

 it is advisable to plant in a poor soil, 

 so as to bring out the variegation. A 



