850 



TYPHA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



ULMUS. 



like the Nettle or the Couch Grass, and, 

 being of spreading habit, is not easily got 

 rid of when established. It may be used 

 with good effect in shady positions where 



Tunica Saxifraga. 



other plants will not thrive, and does well 

 as an edging to a clump of Ferns, or as a 

 groundwork to plants with graceful foliage. 



TYPHA (Reed Mace}. T. latifolia'isa. 

 native water-side plant, growing in tufts 

 of two-rowed flat leaves, 1 8 to 24 in. long 

 and i or 1 1 in. wide. From the centre 

 of each tuft springs a stem 6 or 7 ft. 

 high, terminated in the flowering season 

 by a close cylindrical spike 9 in. long, 

 which is of dark olive, but changes to 

 brownish-black as it ripens. T. angusti- 

 folia is like it except in the size of the 

 narrower leaves and spike, and of the two 

 is perhaps the more graceful, and T. 

 minor is a smaller form of it. T. mi?iima 

 is the smallest of the hardy kinds, 12 in. 

 to 1 8 in. in height, with slender rush-like 

 leaves and dense or globose heads, those 

 of the other kinds being much longer 

 than they are broad. 



ULEX (Furze]. The native Furze is so 

 beautiful and is so well suited for clothing 

 dry banks and the like, that it should 

 be included among flowering shrubs. 

 Where the common Furze grows wild, 

 the double variety is well worth planting, 

 as it is more effective in bloom than the 

 single kind, and lasts longer. There is 

 also a dwarf sort named nanus, which 

 deserves a place, as it flowers at mid- 

 summer when its commoner relative is 

 past flowering. This is also a native, 

 and in places where it flourishes it makes 

 a dense prickly bush 2 ft. high. 



U. strictus (Irish Furze] is an uncom- 

 mon variety of europieus, sometimes met 

 with in botanical collections. As all the 

 kinds of Furze are difficult to transplant 

 when large, the best plan is to get small 

 plants of the double and of the dwarf 

 kinds, and to sow seed of the common 

 single kind. In most nurseries the stock 

 of double Furze is in pots, so that at any 

 time the plants may be had and planted. 

 There are few finer sights than a bank 

 of double Furze in full bloom, and it 

 fortunately may be grown in every 

 garden. Vigorous pruning when its 

 bushes become straggling is all the 

 attention it needs. In severe winters 

 all forms of these plants are liable to 

 be cut down to the ground, but often 

 start up as vigorous as before. 



ULMUS (Elm}. Summer-leafing forest 

 trees of northern and temperate regions 

 and of importance in planting, though the 

 dangerous habit of the common Elm of 

 suddenly dropping heavy branches should 

 make us cautious about planting it near 

 houses. Some of the varieties and species 

 that may be of interest in botanical collec- 

 tions are not worth a place in private 

 grounds, and those planted should be of 

 the most distinct and stately kinds only, 

 as weedy-looking Elms, common in some 

 districts, never give any but a poor effect. 

 The common habit in many districts of 

 forming avenues and shade trees of Elm 

 only, might well be modified in favour of 

 other trees of proved value, as the dis- 

 figurement which occurs after storms in 

 Elm-planted villages and roadsides is 

 deplorable. 



U. AMERICANA (Water Elm}. A large and 

 handsome tree inhabiting moist soil and banks 

 of streams in Newfoundland and westwards 

 and southwards, quite hardy, and useful in 

 Britain. There is a weeping variety. 



U. CAMPESTRIS (Common Elm}. This tree 

 is common and naturalised in our river valleys, 

 and is often blown down by storms in numbers. 

 If we wish to shade our road or walks with 

 trees we certainly should take the trouble to 

 find those which anchor themselves securely, 

 which this does not. There are many varieties, 

 the Cornish, a pendulous one, and the usual 

 variegated ones always more attractive in the 

 nursery state than they are when they get 

 older. 



U. MONTANA (Mountain or Wych Elm}. 

 A fine tree, distinct and handsome as a shade 

 and lawn tree, and not so liable to cause 

 accidents as the common Elm. There are 

 rather numerous varieties, pyramidal upright 

 growers, and, best of all, a weeping variety, a 

 beautiful hardy and distinct tree thriving almost 

 anywhere. There are many specimens in 

 London gardens, and the trees being grafted 

 on their own wild form, the junction is a sound 



