GOOD TREES AND SHRUBS 245 



free-growing, white-stemmed species, is effective in winter after its 

 leaves have dropped. R. ros&folius coronarius, or, to be quite correct, 

 R. thyrsoideus Jlore pleno, with its semi-double, pale pink flowers, 

 should be planted for the freedom with which they are borne and the 

 long time they remain attractive. For planting out of doors in southern 

 counties the Japanese Bramble (R. phasnicolasius) is a success. It is 

 vigorous, with pink flowers carried in long racemes, followed in autumn 

 by scarlet berries. This is called the Japanese Wineberry, too, and is 

 a picturesque spreading shrub ; its fruits are liked by some for dessert 

 and preserve. 



Sambucus (Elder). All the Elders succeed well in gravelly soil ; 

 they also make good growth in moist land. The type, S. nigra, need 

 not be referred to here, but a few of its varieties are worthy of con- 

 sideration. In the first place, the parsley-leaved variety, laciniata, is a 

 handsome cut-leaved Elder, and foliis aureis (Golden Elder) has richly 

 coloured foliage, especially if the soil is inclined to be dry and the 

 position a sunny one. The silver-leaved form makes a good companion 

 to it, as it grows freely, and the silvered leaves are quite distinct. 

 /S. racemosus, a European species, is conspicuous for its great profusion 

 of glowing scarlet berries. It prefers damp soil. We care little, how- 

 ever, for the Elders, and the golden-leaved kind is not always of good 

 colour. All are hungry-rooting trees. Never put them near a mixed 

 border. 



Skimmias. These are good evergreen shrubs either when in 

 flower in spring or laden with their bright scarlet berries in autumn. 

 They are quite hardy, neat in growth, with large panicles of fragrant 

 white flowers. Plant in rich deep soil, and avoid cold bleak situations. 

 In cold counties it is safer to grow them in pots or plant out in cool 

 houses in light airy positions. S. japonica and S. Fortunei are the 

 sorts most frequently seen in gardens, but S. Foremani is particularly 

 valuable, as its large round scarlet berries hang upon the bushes for at 

 least twelve months. 



Sophora japonica is an attractive, deciduous tree, with sulphur- 

 coloured, pea-shaped flowers in terminal panicles towards the close of 

 summer. It is graceful in growth, and should be planted in all gardens 

 where a suitable position can be found for it. 



Spartilim junceum (Spanish Broom) has been grown in this 

 country since about the middle of the fifteenth century. It grows to 

 a height of about ten feet, and is a shrub for planting in dry soil. 

 Racemes of fragrant pea-shaped flowers are borne along the slender, 

 almost leafless, branches in late summer. For planting in masses on 

 sandy banks few shrubs are more effective at flowering time. 



Spiraeas. Amongst hardy deciduous shrubs of dwarf growth, few 

 offer such a pleasing variety of flower colour as the Spiraeas, which are 

 reasonable in price, of simple culture, and sufficiently hardy to stand 

 severe winters. Plant in fairly rich moist soil, and a position shielded 

 from the fierce midday sun is preferable to full exposure. Propagation 

 is readily effected by cuttings of the young wood taken off in August, 

 planted in sandy soil, and placed in a warm, close case for a fortnight 



