338 CHIMONANTHUS CHIOGENES 



f to i in. across, the sepals and outer petals of an almost transparent 

 yellowish green, the inner petals smaller and purplish. Seeds produced 

 in a stalked, gourd-shaped structure i^ ins. long, to the apex of which the 

 stamens remain attached. 



Var. GRANDIFLORUS. Flowers a purer yellow and more showy than in the 

 type, and as much as if ins. across, but not so strongly fragrant. The leaves, 

 too, are larger ; I have seen them occasionally as much as 9 ins. long and 

 4 ins. wide. The shrub is of stronger growth ; there is one 15 ft. high at 

 Warley Place. 



Var. LUTEUS. A variety known in gardens eighty or more years ago, but 

 still exceedingly rare. It differs in having the inner petals yellow instead of 

 purplish. 



This delightful old shrub and its varieties have two strong claims to 

 the notice of planters : It flowers in midwinter when very few other 

 things are in bloom, and its blossoms diffuse around them one of the 

 most pleasing of perfumes. A charming way to use cut sprays for 

 indoor decoration is to associate them with sprays of mahonia (Berberis 

 Aquifolium). It is hardy, and frequently flowers in the open at Kew with 

 great freedom. But usually (and always in cold localities) it is grown on 

 a wall. It requires no pruning in the open, but on a wall an annual 

 .pruning is necessary. It should not be deferred much beyond February, 

 so that the fullest possible length of time is allowed for the new growths 

 to be made on which depend the next winter's crop of flowers. The 

 pruning should consist of a shortening back of the stronger twigs, and 

 the entire removal of the weaker and overcrowding ones. At the same 

 time any renailing that may be needed should be done, also the laying-in 

 of new shoots in vacant places. Propagation is effected by layers and 

 seeds ; cuttings are extremely difficult to root. 



There are two species of Chimonanthus known, both natives of 

 China. C. fragrans was introduced from Japan in 1766. The other is 

 C. NITENS, Oliver, an evergreen species with smooth, shining, oval- 

 lanceolate leaves, 3 or 4 ins. long. Flowers white, solitary, axillary, f in. 

 across. Found by Henry near Ichang, it has not yet been introduced, 

 and is probably rare in a wild state. It is interesting as being a second 

 species of a genus long thought to be monotypic. 



CHIOGENES SERPYLLIFOLIA, Salisbury. CREEPING 

 SNOWBERRY. VACCINIACE.E. 



A creeping, evergreen shrub, the slendef stems furnished with forward- 

 pointing bristles. Leaves alternate, very abundant, \ to \ in. long, oval 

 to nearly round, tapered at both ends, scarcely stalked ; margins slightly 

 decurved; smooth and dark green above, pale beneath, and furnished 

 with a few tiny, rust-coloured bristles. Flowers produced singly in the 

 leaf-axils on short, decurved stalks ; corolla \ in. or less long, bell-shaped, 

 deeply four-lobed, white. Berry white, bristly, J in. across, roundish and 

 rather bristly. 



Native of N. America, from Newfoundland westward to British 



