__i!L 



1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



169 



Gordon^ s Hybrid Currant — (Ribes Gordoniamim.) 

 — This we mentioned last season, being the first we 

 had it in bloom. We allude to it now to say that it 

 proves a hardy and really beauiiful thing. It is of 

 robust growth, like the old yellow flowering, and the 

 flowers are crimson and yellow — very showy. A 

 large, well grown plant in full bloom, is a rich and 

 beautiful object. It is easily grown and propagated, 

 like all other currants, by cuttings and layers. 



Ribi's Mulvacevm. — This is described as being 

 rose colored, but the flowers, so far with us, have but 

 little color and is much less ornamental than we were 

 led to believe it would be. It is a Californian species, 

 and it may be that our plant is not genuine, though 

 it answers the description in all particulars, save the 

 color of the flower. 



Ribes Albiduiii. — This is a white flowered variety, 

 and originated, we believe, in Scotland a few years 

 ago. Our plants have not yet flowered. We take 

 much interest in the ornamental species and varie- 

 ties of the Currant, and look to them as destined in 

 the future to produce many excellent things. 



Double Flowering Plum- Leaved Spir^a — (Spi- 

 rcea prunifolia flore plena.) — This was noticedi n our 

 volume for 1848, page 123, at the time of its intro- 

 duction to this country. It proves a beautiful and 

 perfectly hardy shrub. It fo.-ms a fine, compact bush, 

 and now, early in May, it is covered with its small, 

 pure white, daisy-like blossoms. We speak of it 

 now because we are able to judge of the effects it 

 may produce, and its merits generally, from having 

 large and well grown specimens. It is one of the 

 earliest of all the Spiraes in bloom. 



SIBERIAN THICIi-LRAVED SAXlFRAOi;, 



Early Flowering Perennial Herbaceous 

 Plants. — Among showy border plants of this kind, 

 we have been particularly well pleased with the Sibe- 

 rian thick lea-ved Saxifrage (Saxifraga Crassifolia.) 



The leaves remain green all winter, are almost as 

 large as a cabbage leaf, quite thick and close to the 

 ground. The flower stem is from six to twelve inches 

 high, bearing on its top an immense cluster of pretty 

 lilac flowers about as large as those of a hyacinth 

 and of similar shape. When the plants have become 

 well established, so that a number of stems are pro- 

 duced together, it produces a fine efl'ect. It is propa- 

 gated by division of the plants, succeeds well in any 

 good soil, and blossoms from the first to the last of 

 May. 



holly-leaved berberry. 



The Malionia Aqui folia — (Holly-Leaved Ber- 

 berry.) — This proves with us a fine, hardy, evergreen 

 shrub. Its habit is spreading, attains the height of 

 three or four feet. The foliage is dark green, glossy 

 and prickly like the Holly. The flowers are produced 

 in large heads or clusters, and are a beautiful clear 

 yellow color. They begin to open earl}^ in April, 

 and continue through all of May. A single plant, or 

 a mass of them, on a lawn produces a fine efl'ect. 

 The color contrasts well with the brilliant scarlet of 

 the Pyrus Japonica, (Japan Quince,) in bloom at the 

 same time. It succeeds well with us in any soil and 

 situation, but if possible it should be in a somewhat 

 shaded place, where the sun will not reach it in win- 

 ter with much force. It is so low, however, that it 

 keeps pretty well in the shade. It is easily propaga- 

 ted from seeds and by division of the plant, as it 

 throws up ra^'ical shoots freely. 



The Fasiculwis, Repens, and Intermedia, are spe- 

 cies with some slight botanical distinctions, but they 

 possess the same general appearance in foliage and 

 flowers. They are all beautiful and merit a place 

 among small collections of shrubs. 



Latb Tkansplanting. — Dig a trench carefully round tlio 

 tree, so as to leave a good ball of eartli, not inconvenient 

 to mannge, about the principal pan of the roots. The trench 

 should be as narrow as your spade will permit you to make 

 it. Fill the trench with water, and let it stand for 12 hours. 

 Then fasten a piece of coarse cloth or matting ahout the 

 hall — for it will adhere in a mass — lift it out of the hole, and 

 transplant it, tree and all. — HorticuUurist. 



