210 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



great time the Lead Plant has been in cultivation it is far from common 

 in gardens. A.fruticosa (False Indigo), a well-known deciduous shrub, 

 is more common than the last-named species. It is vigorous and grows 

 half-a-dozen feet high when planted in sandy soil, and produces purplish- 

 blue flowers in rather short spikes during summer. This shrub flowers 

 more freely when cut back every year, as the blossom produced on 

 young growths is much finer than that on neglected bushes. 



Andromeda polifolia (The Marsh Rosemary) is during the summer 

 months one of the brightest things in the shrubbery, and as it is so 

 easily grown one often wonders why it is not more extensively used in 

 gardens. There is an idea that this low-growing evergreen shrub seldom 

 develops more than fifteen inches, succeeding only in peaty soil. This 

 is a mistake, because it flourishes and flowers profusely in loamy soil 

 provided lime is absent and the drainage good. Its wiry shoots, bright 

 green leaves, and its pale pink flowers borne in racemes are distinct, 

 enduring, and very beautiful. The varieties, major and angustifolia, 

 are practically described by their varietal names. 



Aralia chinenis (syn. Dimorphanthus mandschuricus) is a Chinese 

 tree introduced to this country upwards of sixty years ago. In a deci- 

 duous state its long, spiny, branchless stems are by no means attractive ; 

 but during the growing season, and in autumn when bearing its huge 

 terminal panicles of small cream-white flowers, it is very effective, and 

 has quite a tropical look. It is quite hardy and flourishes in poor soils. 

 The Angelica tree (A. spinosa) was introduced from Virginia more than 

 two hundred years ago, and like the last-named it blooms in autumn, 

 in fact its cream-coloured flowers may be frequently seen as late as the 

 middle of October, and even after that time. To see the full beauty of 

 this plant it should be allowed plenty of room and generous treatment. 



The Arbutuses (Strawberry Trees) are delightful subjects for the 

 garden, especially if the soil is peaty, moist, well-drained, and the posi- 

 tion screened from the north and east. Not only are they valued for 

 their flowers, but also for their berries. The strawberry-like fruit of A. 

 Unedo is very showy, and as the white bell-shaped flowers are borne at 

 the same time the effect of a good-sized tree is very telling when suit- 

 ably placed. A. Unedo, the most frequently planted kind, is of moderate 

 growth, rarely developing more than twenty feet in height, with bright 

 green leaves, forming a round-headed, well-balanced tree. It can be well 

 recommended for planting on the outskirts of the lawn and near the 

 sea-coast. It flowers in autumn. Several varieties differing from 

 the type have been raised, and are now in gardens. They differ 

 either in habit of growth, size, and colour of flower, and are fairly 

 described by their varietal names. For instance, A. U. quercifolia has 

 leaves not unlike those of some oaks. The variety microphylla is not 

 only small in growth, but its deep green leaves are the smallest of all 

 the Arbutuses. It is of slow growth and a serviceable evergreen shrub 

 for small gardens. The variety rubra, also known as A. Croomii, is of 

 more than ordinary merit. It grows freely and has large handsome 

 leaves, while the young bark is of a pleasing shade of reddish brown, 

 and quite distinct from that of any other member of the family. The 



