THE ESCALLONIA. 35 



border ; by layers as for the Laurel, trimming off the 

 small spray and leaves from the branches buried in the 

 soil, and scraping with the knife all the shoots, at a 

 joint above on the upper side, which are suitable to 



Fig. 8. — Laurel or Bay layered, showing the emission of the 

 roots from the tongue, a a ; b b, ground line. 



make plants. This scraping of the bark is equal to 

 cutting a tongue ; it checks the run of sap, and induces 

 the layer to emit roots below. 



The seed should be sown as soon as ripe, or it may be 

 preserved in sand till February, when it should be 

 sown in drills 2 inches deep, in a moderately light 

 sandy soil, in a little shade. Most of the seed will 

 vegetate the same season. Let the seedlings remain in 

 the seed-bed two seasons, after which they may be 

 bedded out. Young plants of the Laurestine kind 

 should be planted where they are to remain. 



The Escallonia. 



There are many varieties of this, but I shall merely 

 refer to one, Macrantha, this being the most popular 

 and the best. This shrub is no doubt one of the most 

 superb hardy plants we possess ; I know of no equal to 

 it in the West, where it flowers the greater part of the 

 year. It does this so profusely that it is a mass of 

 crimson scarlet, and luxuriates to perfection. 



This plant is a most accommodating one. It may be 

 grown in a pot, and is superior to any Fuchsia : it may 



