EVERGREEN ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS. 537 



thousand, and in same proportion for smaller quanti- 

 ties. It is perfectly hardy a most rapid grower has 

 a very attractive, yellow flower early in spring, succeed- 

 ed by fine purplish berries in autumn, which, in Eng- 

 land, are used for preserves by the agricultural classes, 

 very much, as in New England, the common Berberry 

 is used for same purpose. It is evergreen, or if not 

 entirely so, it has what is even better, a most superb 

 rich, brown tone, mingled with the most gorgeous scarlet 

 and crimson, like our highest autumnal coloring, and 

 the leaves covered with a brilliant lustre-like varnish. 

 We believe it does not grow over live or six feet high, 

 and we find the plant is much improved by keeping it 

 back by occasional clipping, as it sometimes has a ten- 

 dency to straggle. It should be always planted in beds 

 or masses, by itself. 



The Rhododendron is too well known to require des- 

 cription. Although the R. Ponticum and many of the 

 hardy hybrids like Nero, Atrosanguineum, Ferrugin- 

 eum, and a few others are quite satisfactory in the pro- 

 tection of a wood, yet the only truly reliable ones 

 in exposed situations, are the English varieties of the 

 Catawbiensis, of which Messrs. Waterer & Godfrey 

 (and we presume they can also be procured now at our 

 nurseries) offer thirty varieties in color, all hardy here, 

 one and a half to two feet high, mostly with flower 

 buds, at fifty shillings sterling, per hundred, for 

 plants not named, and ten pounds per hundred (about 

 fifty cents each) for named varieties. 



It is perhaps well to say here that Rhododendrons, 

 Azaleas, and most of these evergreen shrubs, do well 

 enough in ordinary garden soil, but are much improved 

 in color and habit, by a soil prepared equally of peat, 

 leaf soil, and sand or sandy loam. There is no more 

 superb plant cultivated than the Rhododendron, and we 

 earnestly recommend the adoption in pots (to be kept 

 in the green-house during winter) of the varieties below 



