Introduction 



beautifying and diversifying of a garden. They give 

 just sufficient variation of level to the general colour line, 

 they break up the flat monotony that too often spoils 

 a small patch of ground, and they have none of the 

 evil overshadowing effects and the abruptness of trees, 

 while in the infinitude of choice among them lies a 

 great enhancement of interest. 



Look, for instance, at the choice in Spiraeas, from 

 the crimson, flat clustered S. japonica to the lovely 

 cascaded S. Lindleyana ; in Barberries, from the vivid 

 grace of B. stenophylla in the spring to the sunset- 

 like flare of the B. Thunbergii in the autumn ; in the 

 Azaleas, whose brilliant meteor flash in May gives a 

 perfect orgy of colour joy. From the East and from 

 the West the flowering shrubs of many a genus, and 

 of many a species in that genus, press upon our 

 notice. 



From North America there come the Kalmias, the 



Ceanothuses, the golden as well as the red Flowering 



Currants, the Garrya, the Mahonia (Berberis aqui- 



foliMnt), certain Rhododendrons, and the Mexican Orange 



(Ckoisya). 



From South America we have the Darwinian Bar- 

 berry, the Escallonias, Azara, the Fire Bush (Emboth- 

 rium), and Fuchsias. 



From China and Japan there pour rich stores 

 indeed Forsythias, Weigela, Kerrias, the Aucuba, won- 



