208 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



the young leaves are of a pleasing shade of green, eventually changing 

 to rich orange and yellow. A. polygama also bears white flowers and 

 a profusion of berries in autumn. Ordinary soil suits these rampant 

 climbers. 



^EsculuS Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) is the noblest of 

 all hardy-flowering, vigorous trees for the pleasure-ground. Its beauty 

 at flowering time is proverbial. It has been planted extensively in 

 some parts of the country. Its native country is supposed to be 

 Asia, from whence it was brought to this country so long ago as 1629. 

 Although it succeeds in most soils, it seems to delight in a rich, light 

 loam. There are varieties with double flowers, others with beautifully 

 cut leaves, and some have golden variegated foliage, all of which are 

 ornamental. JE. indica, well known as the Indian Horse Chestnut, 

 is a free-growing tree, with numerous branches and great quantities of 

 white flowers marked with red and yellow. The one named rubicunda 

 or carnea, as it is now recognised, deserves greater popularity. It grows 

 upwards of twenty feet in height, and conies from North America. Its 

 showy scarlet flowers, borne on substantial spikes, remain in beauty for 

 several weeks. Brioti is a variety of the last named, and certainly 

 quite as free in blossom ; the large rose-coloured flowers carried 

 on long erect spikes are quite distinct and lasting. It is a grand 

 tree. ^E. californica (Pavia californica) is a spreading tree a 

 dozen feet or so in height, and in August rose-pink flowers appear in 

 profusion. It is very uncommon, perfectly hardy, attractive, and valu- 

 able for its lateness. jE. parviflora (Pavia macrostachya\ indigenous 

 to North America, is a superb kind, and exceptionally free-flowering. 

 Its sweet-scented white flowers, borne on long racemes with conspicuous 

 stamens and red-tipped anthers, give additional beauty to the tree. 

 JE. flava (Sweet Buckeye), also known under the names of Pavia bicolor 

 and P. flava, bears pale yellow flowers. It grows upwards of twenty 

 feet in height. 



AilantUS glandulosa (Tree of Heaven) is one of the most desirable 

 of vigorous trees, but requires plenty of light, space, and air to bring 

 out its real value. It produces a straight trunk, from which are 

 given off numerous long branches clothed with much divided 

 leaves, four and sometimes five feet long. By no means particular 

 as to soil it makes the best growth in deep, well-drained loam, and 

 in autumn, when bearing its great clusters of brown-winged fruits, 

 it is one of the most conspicuous of trees. It is valuable, too, for the 

 sub-tropical garden under certain treatment, and for this purpose it 

 should be grown on the single-stem system and cut hard back every year. 

 The growths that follow this treatment are vigorous, and the leaves 

 larger than those of uncut trees. 



Akebia quinata is an uncommon Chinese evergreen climber of 

 free growth, with glossy green leaves divided into several leaflets. In 

 April and May it produces small, dull purple flowers in short axillary 

 racemes, and although not individually conspicuous they are very 

 fragrant, especially at night. A deep, moist, well-drained soil is 

 necessary, and a position where it is not exposed to biting winds, as 



