THE BIRCH AND ALDER FAMILY. 2O7 



by continually propagating from cuttings or offsets, while 

 the nutrition of plants also affects their sexual fertility in a 

 marked manner. B. (Bealii) japonica is one of the noblest 

 of all the species in sheltered southern counties, or as a cool 

 conservatory shrub ; and this might be improved by seminal 

 variation and selection, or possibly by hybridising. We have 

 many seminal forms of Berberis in our gardens, and one or two 

 hybrids. 



At a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, October 2, 

 1872, Messrs Standish & Co. exhibited an interesting batch of 

 seedlings from Berberis stenophylla itself a reputed hybrid ; 

 and these were of the most diverse character, no two being 

 alike. 



The Hybrid Mahonia (B. fascicularis-hybrida) is a handsome 

 shrub, 5-8 feet in height, bearing pinnate deep-green leaves, 5-7 

 leaflets, and producing a profusion of golden flowers in the 

 spring. It is perfectly hardy, and very superior to any of the 

 forms of M. aquifolia ; and is said to be a hybrid production 

 raised between M. repens 3&A. fascicularis, in the nursery of Mr 

 Rivers of Sawbridgeworth, in Hertfordshire. Its synonyms are 

 Mahonia repens-fasricularis and M. aquifolia-fascicularis. 



Epimedium. A genus of pretty little plants of easy culture 

 bearing very attractive white, rose, or violet coloured flowers. 

 They are distinguishable from Berberis by their flowers con- 

 sisting of parts of four, there being four sepals, eight petals, and 

 four stamens, the bilobed anthers of which are valvular, as 

 in the last-named genus. E. alpinum is the only European 

 species, the most showy kinds being natives of temperate Asia 

 and Japan. Numerous very beautiful hybrids have been 

 raised in Belgian gardens ; and among the best of these, E. 

 atroroseum, E. rubrum, E. versicolor, E. lilacinum, E. sul- 

 phureum, and others, were raised by that veteran hybridist M. 

 Donkelaar. A pale-yellow-flowered hybrid has been raised by 

 fertilising E. colchicum with pollen from E. macranthum. 



THE BIRCH AND ALDER FAMILY (Betulacecz). 



A small group of slender - growing trees or shrubs, re- 

 presented in our woods and forests and gardens by different 

 species and forms of Betula or Birch, and Alnus or Alder. 

 Although generally natives of Europe, N. Asia, the Hima- 

 layas, and N. America, they are also found in Peru and 

 Columbia ; while in the Alpine regions they are the last trees 

 found on the barren limits of eternal snow. Birch- wine is pre- 



