REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS. 2«0 



At Reading we labor under considerable difficulty in the matter 

 of soil, which is quite generally a very light loam, devoid of any 

 traces of clay, but with an excessive preponderance of gravel at 

 times ; consequently in many cases we find it quite out of the 

 question to attempt the raising of certain classes of nursery stock 

 which are better grown on a clay soil. For this reason large 

 blocks of Pears, Plums, and Cherries ai'e not to be seen with us. 

 On the other hand for the raising of many sorts of Hardy Herba- 

 ceous plants and most of the Shrubs, our soil is exceptionally well 

 adapted. 



Among new Hardy Shrubs we find the following of the greatest 

 promise and worthy of extended culture : 



StepJianandra flexuosa, of Japanese origin, forms a densely 

 branched shrub with deeply toothed foliage, of a rich glossy green, 

 taking on unusual tints of reddish purple in its young growth and 

 again at its autuiun ripening. The branches are long and slender, 

 densely clothed with brauchlets, and the white flowers, though 

 minute, are borne in such profusion as to give considerable effect. 

 A plant that clothes itself well to the ground even with age, — a 

 feature of itself. 



Ruhus deliciosus, the Rocky Mountain Bramble, is very hardy 

 with us and of neat habit of growth, with foliage of a pleasing 

 light green, and a wealth of rich white flowers in June and July ; 

 each an inch and a half across, giving the effect of single roses. 



Caryopteris MastacantJius, the so-called Blue Spiraea, is prov- 

 ing of great interest, with its dense whorls of rich deep blue 

 flowers in late September, continuing till frost. Much after the 

 habit of the Desmodium, this probably will kill back nearly if 

 not quite to the ground yearly, but will not kill out completely 

 unless present indications and reports are decidedly wrong. We 

 are indebted to China for this acquisition. 



Hypericum Moserianwn, with its rich foliage and elegant large 

 golden flowers in great profusion, is of highest merit but the 

 matter of a good winter covering of leaves must not be overlooked. 



Double Lilacs and the new single forms, of which there is such 

 a confusing variety, at present show remarkable improvements, 

 and cannot fail to add greatly to our early summer shrubbery 

 effects. I note among the best the following : 



Philemon. — Rich wine red ; perhaps the deepest colored of all 

 the single or double sorts. 



