HARDY SHRUBS. 155 



else there will be a tendency to have flowers without foliage. This 

 species is best propagated from green wood cuttings talien shortly after 

 the plant is done blooming. Dull weather should be chosen for the 

 operation, as then the cuttings stand an almost certain chance of root- 

 ing. Make the pieces about 4 inches long; avoid the thick, succulent 

 growths, taking only those which have most substance to them. Put 

 closely together in the sand bed of a cool house, or frame, and shade to 

 prevent wilting. As soon as rooted, put in boxes or small pots until 

 taken a little with the soil, then plant in rows outside, where they will 

 make bushy little plants before Autumn. The next year after that in 

 which they are struck from cuttings will give plants large enough to go 

 into 6-inch pots for forcing. D. Lemoinei, a hybrid between D. gracilis 

 and D. parviflora, is also a good subject for forcing. It is quite as free 

 in rooting as D. gracilis, and, along with D. parviflora, should be treated 

 in the same manner in the same propagating bed. 



DIERVILLA (Weigelia). — D. rosea is the best known of the species; it 

 blooms in May and June. As it is not particular as to soil or location 

 the species and its varieties should be in every collection. D. r. flori- 

 buuda has dark red flowers with whitish stamens — a very prolific 

 bloomer. D. r. Desboisii has deep rose-colored flowers. D. grandiflora 

 is a tall growing plant with large leaves and flowers. There are several 

 varieties with white, red and pink flowers; some of these give scattering 

 blooms throughout the Summer and Autumn months. D. rosea and its 

 forms force very easily. In its propagation, cuttings of the dormant 

 wood root quickly if put in gentle heat about the end of March, or the 

 growing tips may be used in Summer when kept in a humid atmosphere 

 during the rooting process. 



ERICA (Heath).— These are attractive low-growing shrubs useful for 

 bordering those ot taller growth. The cuttings taken from the tips of 

 the current year's growth should be put in during late Summer. Few 

 florists have just the proper facilities for rooting these and kindred 

 plants. The structure, a cool frame, should face north and will be all 

 the better if in the shade of a house. The idea is to have the atmosphere 

 while rooting as moist and as cool as possible. Erica vagans is au 

 early kind, as is also E. mediterranea; E. cinerea and E. tetralix are 

 later in blooming. Calluna vulgaris (Heather), with the double and 

 white flowered kinds, are all good; they need peaty soil, or loam mixed 

 with an abundance of leaf mould and sand, and should not be allowed 

 to get dust dry at the roots while in a young state. 



EUONYMUS (Spindle Tree).— Up till within a few years E. japonicus 

 was among the finest of our evergreen shrubs in this section, but owing 

 to the ravages of a small scale insect the plant is now comparatively 

 seldom seen and will only thrive where severe measures are taken to 

 keep it clear of the pest. Several forms have very handsome variega- 

 tions; their names are E. j. latifolius-aureus, E. j. aureo-marginatus, E. 

 j. albo-marginatus, and E. j. latifolius-albus. They bloom about the 

 end of July and usually ripen large quantities of seeds. The variegated 

 kinds are propagated by cuttings, put in about the end of October, in a 

 cool house or frame. 



