SHRUBS. 245 



adapted for covering a wall or a trellis, and if care be 

 taken not to prune away too many of the young shoots, it 

 will afford its blossoms abundantly. It may also, by cut- 

 ting in, be trained up as a small standard shrub, or it may 

 be trimmed to a single stem and head, potted, and placed 

 in the green-house. As extremely low evergreens, we may 

 mention Grualtheria procumbens and Shallon, Polygala 

 Chamsebuxus, and Astragalus Tragacantha; but these 

 would probably be better placed among what are popularly 

 called American plants. Of the more tender evergreens, 

 we should name the Andrachne (Arbutus Andrachne), a 

 beautiful shrub, but liable to be injured by severe frosts ; 

 and the pittosporum Tobira of Japan, with glossy foliage 

 and fragrant flowers. The Broad-leaved Myrtle (Myrtus 

 Romana), in warm places, and with the aid of a covering 

 in the depth of winter, may be made to clothe the wall 

 with its brilliant verdure for eight months in the year, and 

 with its white flowers for some weeks in the end of summer. 

 Treated in the same way, the noble Magnolia grandiflora 

 (particularly the Exmouth variety) will yield its large and 

 fragrant blossoms. Ancuba Japonica and Buxus Balearica 

 are handsome shrubs, of a somewhat stronger constitution; 

 the former is very ornamental in dull shady places, where 

 no other shrub will grow, and it withstands severe frost, 

 which destroys laurustinus. The beautiful tribes of Cistus 

 and Helianthemum, some of which are quite hardy, are well 

 adapted for adorning sloping banks. 



Amongst the shrubs that require a peaty soil, or at least 

 a damp and shady situation, the splendid genus Rhodo- 

 dendron holds the principal place. Of the larger species 

 may be mentioned R. Ponticum, Catawbiense, and Maxim- 

 um, with their numerous hybrid varieties. In early spring, 

 R. Pauricum and atrovirens expand their blossoms among 



