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others for many years, but certainly have not flowered during 

 the last fifteen years. They are easily distinguished by the 

 excessive glossiness of the leaves on the upper side, the 

 under side has not so much russett as the good variety. 



Near to the Azara is a fine plant of the Poison Vine 

 Rhus toxicodendron from North America. This has a 

 similar appearance to the Virginian Creeper, but is quite a 

 distinct plant. Its leaves turn to very beautiful shades of red 

 and yellow in the autumn it is the richest coloured autumn 

 plant we have. In some persons it causes an irritation of the 

 skin similar to eczema. I found it had been grown here over 

 30 years without anyone knowing what it was, or suffering 

 from its poisonous properties, nevertheless, it is advisable 

 to be very careful when handling this plant, especially if the 

 person is hot at the time. 



Some, very old plants of Chimonanthus fragrans are 

 established along these walls. This is a general favourite in 

 early spring, its flowers being so pleasantly scented ; in mild 

 autumns some of them will open in November formerly it 

 was called Calycanthus praecox. A larger species, both in 

 leaves and flowers, is on the lowest wall. This is Calycanthus 

 occidentalis its flowers, which appear in the summer, smell 

 strongly of apples. Another variety, C. floridus, has clove- 

 scented flowers. 



Vitis purpurea grows near the sundial. It is very pretty 

 in autumn when its leaves turn a dark claret colour, but in 

 the early part of the summer it is very like an ordinary grape 

 vine. Near to this a fine plant of Olearia stellulata lived for 

 several years, but finally succumbed in the cold wet spring of 



