244 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



early. The small, red, Fuchsia-like flowers of R. speciosum, formerly 

 called R. fucJisioides, are produced very freely, and have long projecting 

 stamens. Although perfectly hardy it is better for a wall, as its tiny flowers 

 are then seen to advantage ; the slender shoots are spiny. R. gordoni- 

 anum, raised between R. aureum and R. sanguineum, is vigorous and 

 very free. 



Robinias (Hardy Acacias). These are trees of much interest, quite 

 hardy, and free-flowering. Of the Common Locust Tree (R. pseud- 

 acacia) there are several good varieties. Decaisneana is of free growth, 

 and produces light pink flowers ; Bessoniana is a thornless variety, and 

 an excellent tree for town gardens. It forms a dense head, and its 

 bright green leaves hang long after those of other kinds have dropped ; 

 crispa has distinctly curled leaves ; and aurea is a bright yellow f oli- 

 aged variety ; while semperflorens flowers nearly the whole summer 

 through. R. hispida, the lovely North American Rose Acacia, is the 

 most ornamental of the genus, and it is very beautiful towards mid- 

 summer, when bearing its drooping racemes of rose-pink flowers. For 

 villa-gardens, or where space is restricted, this should not be lost sight 

 of. Select a sheltered spot for this Acacia, as the branches are rather 

 brittle, and in rough weather are apt to snap off. The variety named 

 inermis is very fine too. It is free in growth, with large leaves and 

 delicately-coloured flowers. R. neo-mexicana flowers in autumn, at 

 which time it is very distinct. Its rose-coloured blossoms are in dense 

 racemes. 



Romneya Coulter! (Californian Bush Poppy). Every gardener 

 almost tries to grow this beautiful shrubby plant, which has big, flimsy, 

 fluttering flowers of snowy white, with a centre of golden stamens. The 

 flowers are frequently over six inches across, and a strong plant will 

 bear many expanded at one time. It is not very hardy, but is fre- 

 quently quite happy in many gardens in the south of England. In the 

 north it should be grown indoors, and is well worthy of glass protection. 

 A warm, sheltered wall is a suitable place for it. Captain Coleridge, a 

 good gardener at Twyford, in Berkshire, says : " I leave the old growth 

 as a protection during the winter, but as soon as the new shoots appear 

 at the base the old wood is cut down to the ground like any other 

 herbaceous plant." Writing in the summer of 1899, Captain Coleridge 

 says that his largest plant had thirty-seven expanded blooms besides 

 numerous buds at one time. "When I planted it eight years ago it 

 was a very small plant. It was put in a warm corner facing south-west, 

 and it now covers ten feet of ground and is five feet high. It has no 

 protection, and blooms freely every year." 



RlibllS. Although the Bramble family is very large, it does not 

 contain many really beautiful species. R. odoratus, the North American 

 purple-flowered Raspberry, grows freely, and during the late summer 

 bears fragrant flowers in terminal corymbs. R. deliciosus (the spineless 

 Rocky Mountain Bramble) forms a good bush, and its white flowers are 

 two inches or more across, with a central cluster of golden-yellow 

 stamens. This is effective in bold groups. Fertile soil and a warm 

 position should be chosen for this uncommon shrub. R. Uflorus, a 



