ADENOC ARPUS .EGLE 165 



of common gorse, produced on the upper side of the branches in short, 

 erect racemes, ij to 2\ ins. long. Seed-pods \\ to 2 ins. long, \ in. wide, 

 pale, covered with conspicuous viscid glands. 



Native of Spain, and only hardy in the milder parts of Great Britain. 

 At Kew it needs wall protection, but in the garden at Grayswood Hill, 

 near Haslemere (perhaps 300 ft. above sea-level), it thrives splendidly. I 

 have seen shrubs there in May and early June 6 to 8 ft. high, laden with 

 golden blossom from end to end of their branches, and making most 

 gorgeous pictures. Like so many of its race, this shrub is not long-lived, 

 and care should be taken to sow a few seeds occasionally (it produces 

 them in great abundance), to renew the stock if needed. It should have 

 the sunniest position available, and is suitable for a hot bank in gardens 

 where it can thrive in the open. For colder localities a place on a south 

 wall is necessary. 



/EGLE SEPIARIA, De Candolle. RUTACE^. 



(Citrus trifoliata, Linnceus, Bot. Mag., t. 6513 ; Limonia trifoliata, Hort.} 



A deciduous, very spiny shrub, 8 to 12 ft. high, often as much wide, 

 with smooth, green, crooked, angular branchlets. The spines are from 

 i to 2 ins. long, very stiff, straight, and sharply pointed. Leaves of three^ 

 sometimes five leaflets, which are obovate, the middle one ij to 2 ins. 

 long, the side ones half as large; leaf-stalk winged. Flowers sweetly 

 scented, produced from the axils of the spines before the leaves, pure 

 white, ij to 2 ins. across, with four or five concave, obovate petals. 

 Stamens pink, disunited. Fruit like a small orange in colour and shape, 

 about ij ins. across, covered with down. 



Native of Japan and China. The genus yEgle is very nearly allied 

 to Citrus (orange, lemon, etc.), differing chiefly in the stamens not being 

 united. This species is one of the most striking Japanese plants ever 

 introduced. It is perfectly hardy at Kew, having survived 30 of frost 

 without injury ; and although it does not ripen fruit there, it flowers freely 

 and regularly during May every year. Its foliage is often scanty, but 

 that enables its formidable armature to be the better seen. Were it 

 common enough, it would make a good hedge plant : there is a hedge 

 in the Public Garden of Milan 100 yds. long, which, being only 3 ft. 

 high, is too small for so vigorous a shrub as this, but which shows that 

 it stands clipping well. In the western counties it fruits freely, and in 

 Canon Ellacombe's garden at Bitton, near Bristol, there is a tree that 

 has borne fruit for twenty years past. It is a plant every garden should 

 contain for its beauty and distinction, its perfect hardiness, and its interest 

 as a very close ally of the lemon and orange. The fruits are too bitter 

 and acrid to be eaten raw, but they have been made into a conserve by 

 boiling in sugar. It should be given a sunny position and a deep> 

 moderately rich, loamy soil. English ripened fruits produce good seed, 

 from which I have raised young plants. It is also said that cuttings of 

 half-ripened wood put in a close frame will take root. 



There is a hybrid between this and the orange, raised in France, 

 probably hardy in many parts. It has been named the " Citrange." 



