HARDY SHRUBS, 161 



K(ELREUTERIA PANICULATA is one of the very best small sized decidu- 

 ous trees in cultivation — such as florists are often called upon to suggest 

 for small gardens and in places unsuitable or too small for the develop- 

 ment of forest trees. The Kcelreuteria was certainly not named by any- 

 one having its popularity in view, as I am inclined to think the long 

 name is responsible for the plant not being more common. There isn't 

 a sufficiently taking popular name under which the species is known. 

 The leaves are compound; the flowers yellow, in immense panicles, well 

 above the leaves; they are produced in June and July. The seed, which 

 is somewhat like that of the Canna, if sown in the Fall will germinate 

 the following Spring. Stock is also got up readily from root cuttings. 



LAQERSTRCEMIA INDICA, (Crape Myrtle )— Northern nurserymen, as 

 a rule, do not handle this plant, owing to its being tender in the North. 

 However, it is hardy enough to stand zero weather; but wh*»n the mer- 

 cury gets much lower the plant is apt to be killed to the ground. In 

 the Southern States the Crape Myrtle is perhaps the best known of all 

 the flowering shrubs, as there are few, if any, which exceed in beauty a 

 well-developed specimen in full bloom. The flowers are bright pink and 

 are arranged in immense heads, even on one year-old plants from seed. 

 Large specimens grown in tubs, and kept in a cool greenhouse, can be 

 made to flower two or three times during the year by cutting back the 

 flowering branches. L. i. alba has pure white flowers, others are bright 

 and pale shades of purple, rose and red. It is hardy in this section and 

 is successfully grown much further North with a slight protection dur- 

 ing Winter, for if the roots are protected with a covering of leaves, or 

 rough litter, they will sprout vigorously and bloom profusely before the 

 Summer passes. It is best propagated from seed, as all the colors come 

 true. Sow in boxes about the latter part of September, on very firm 

 soil, covering the seeds with finely sifted peaty soil. They will germinate 

 in Spring, and if liberally treated some of them will bloom the same 

 season. Young plants are always much more tender than those three 

 years old and upward. 



LAURUS NOBILIS (Bay Tree)— In sheltered situations this well-known 

 shrub occasionally survives the Winters in this section. It sometimes 

 makes growths 6 feet long in a single season ; these are necessarily soft 

 and ill-prepared to stand severe weather. During the Winter of 1898 — 

 1899 every plant was killed to the ground. Large specimen plants 

 grown as standards and pyramids are imported for decorative pur- 

 poses. They may be had in good condition for several years by 

 attention to watering and keeping them indoors when there is dan- 

 ger from frosts. Owing to their restricted root room there is little 

 danger of their growing out of shape. 



LlQUSTRUn (Privet)— In this section L.japonicum is a very desirable 

 evergreen species with large leaves. During very severe Winters the 

 outer branches suffer considerably. I. Ibota, L ovalifolium, and I. luci- 

 dum are very attractive-looking shrubs when in flower. The European 

 Privet, L. vulgare, has small flowers and foliage, and is the hardiest of 

 the number There is a form with glaucous leaves, the margins of which 

 are bordered with white. The deciduous species are among the eaeiest 



