278 THE NEW GARDENING 



The New Gardening makes vastly better use of shrubs 

 than the old, and gardens are the more beautiful 

 for it. 



With the greater attention that is now devoted to 

 beautiful shrubs plant dealers are encouraged to raise 

 improved varieties, and to send travellers into distant 

 countries in search of new species. Let us see what they 

 have done for us with some of the principal kinds. 



The Syrian Mallow, Althaea f rut ex or Hibiscus syriacus, 

 has been improved almost out of recognition, and the 

 genus now comprises many beautiful plants, some single, 

 others double, the colours being blush, crimson, rose, 

 purple, white and red and white (Painted Lady) . Named 

 varieties are offered by some dealers, and Bleu Celeste, 

 Boule de Feu, Leopoldii flore pleno, purpurea and vio- 

 lacea may be named. The Syrian Mallow will thrive 

 in most soils if the site is sunny. It flowers at the end 

 of summer and loses its leaves in winter. 



The Aralias are grown for their handsome leaves, and 

 Chinensis (syn. Dimorphanthus Mandshuricus) has two 

 beautiful variegated forms in alba (or argentea) variegata 

 and aurea variegata. They do best in a sheltered place. 



The Aucubas, cheap and common as they are, should 

 not be slighted, for they are showy when well berried, 

 and the fact must be borne in mind that they will thrive 

 under the shade of trees. The small green-leaved, 

 offered by some nurserymen under the name of Japonica 

 vera (or vera nana), is, I consider, a more ornamental 

 shrub, when full of berries, than the variegated, for the 

 brillant red fruits find a beautiful foil in the deep green 

 foliage. 



Few shrubs are more important to the modern flower- 

 gardener than the Azaleas. Many beautiful hardy 

 hybrids have been raised, and, as stated in chapter vn., 



