"THE ANDROMEDA. 95 



as it does abundantly, as well as being luxuriant in 

 foliage. 



The Fabian a. 



The F. Imbricata is reckoned amongst our half- 

 hardy shrubs, but it is quite a hardy one in the West of 

 England, and grows to a moderate-sized dwarf shrub. 

 It is a very pretty Heath-like evergreen, bearing an 

 abundance of white flowers. It prefers a dry soil, con- 

 sisting of loam and peat, and requires similar manage- 

 ment to a hard-wooded Heath, although it does not 

 belong to that tribe. By nipping out the points of the 

 leaders a dwarf and handsome compact plant may be 

 obtained. It may be cut pretty severely, with a view 

 to renovate an old deteriorated plant. The stopping 

 should be done after flowering-. 



o- 



The Kalmia. 



The Kalmias are peat-loving plants, nor can they be 

 grown well without it. They are no doubt the most ex- 

 quisitely formed flowers we have among our hardy 

 shrubs. They are not particular as to situation, but 

 suitable soil must be provided for them, or failure will 

 certainly ensue. 



They will do well in a group with the Azalea, al- 

 though the Kalmia is of slower growth than that plant. 

 They may also be planted on the outside of the bed 

 when grouped with the Azaleas. 



Very little pruning is required for the Kalmia. In the 

 early stages of its growth some stopping of the leaders 

 may be necessary to form a symmetrical and bushy 

 plant, well feathered below with foliage. This stopping 

 should be done as soon as two or three inches of new 

 growth have been made. 



The Andromeda. 



This is a genus of very pretty shrubs, while some are 

 trees belonging to the natural order of Heaths, although 



