GOOD TREES AND SHRUBS 217 



and perfectly hardy. It also blooms early, and the flowers ure larger 

 and brighter in colour. It is free in growth, and a first-rate shade tree. 

 Catalpas like moisture, and this is the reason why the trees are so 

 luxurious and shapely in the gardens of the Thames valley. 



Caryopteris mastacanthus produces pretty light-blue flowers over 

 a considerable period in autumn, a time when shrubs in flower are scarce, 

 consequently its value is enhanced. It is not, unfortunately, hardy 

 generally, but is well worth a place against a wall. Avoid planting in 

 cold, bleak situations, and use, if possible, a soil consisting of fibrous 

 loam and leaf-mould, with the addition of a little coarse silver sand or 

 grit. To insure a thorough ripening of the wood, select a sunny posi- 

 tion. The white-flowered form is not so hardy as the type, and the 

 flowers are produced rather sparingly. 



The Ceanothuses are delightfully free-flowering shrubs, but un- 

 fortunately not sufficiently hardy for general outdoor planting north 

 of London, as they suffer in severe winters. For clothing warm walls, 

 especially if the soil is fairly rich and the drainage ample, they are 

 excellent, and few shrubs are more brilliant in summer. C. americanus 

 (ISTew Jersey Tea) comes from America, and bears an abundance of 

 white flowers ; it is very hardy and ornamental. C. veitchianus, from 

 California, is of free growth, and very showy when bearing its clusters 

 of bright blue flowers. 0. dentatus has deeply- toothed leaves and rich 

 blue flowers, borne in advance of those of the last named. It is 

 very free-flowering, and continues in blossom for about four months. 

 G. papillosus and G. verrucosus are very floriferous and ornamental. 

 C. azureus, introduced from Mexico upwards of seventy years ago, is a 

 compact, free-growing shrub, often many feet in height when suitably 

 placed. Its bright blue flowers appear from midsummer onwards. 

 The writer is acquainted with a gardener at Ealing in Middlesex, where 

 the shrub has grown to the roof ; the aspect is south. Of the many 

 beautiful garden forms belonging to this species the following are worthy 

 of mention here. Gloire de Versailles is the most popular. It is free in 

 growth, with large leaves, and bright blue flowers, Lome in long racemes. 

 Marie Simon is another good kind; and Albert Pettitt, Lucy Simon, 

 Albidus, and Arnoldi are noteworthy too. 



CeraSUS Lauro-CeraSTlS (Common Laurel) is a shrub that has 

 been over-planted. It should, if possible, be kept out of the choice 

 shrubbery border, as its hungry roots rob everything else of nourish- 

 ment. It may be planted as shelter. The varieties known as the 

 Colchic and Caucasian are of quick growth, and rotundifolia should be 

 planted freely, but perhaps the most distinct variety of the Common 

 Laurel is that named camellixfolia, with rich polished green leaves. 

 It is perfectly hardy. 



The Portugal Laurel (C. lusitanica) makes a handsome shrub or 

 small tree, twenty feet or so in height. It is perfectly hardy, of spread- 

 ing habit, and of free growth, even in poor soils. 



Cercis Siliquastrum (Judas Tree) is a beautiful tree when laden 

 with its wealth of rosy-purple blossoms, which appear in spring before 

 the kidney-shaped, glossy green leaves. It is a small growing, freeJy 



