Round the Year in the Garden 



than those that have been grafted. There are many 

 named varieties of Lilac, of which the following are a 

 few of the best : Abel Carriere, purplish blue, and Mere 

 Micheli, lilac, both doubles. Of single-flowered sorts 

 there are Charles X, reddish ; Marie le Graye, white ; 

 Souvenir de Louis Spath, reddish, and alba grandiflora, 

 white. The Persian Lilac, a small bush of slender, graceful 

 growth and bearing lilac-coloured, fragrant flowers, is par- 

 ticularly attractive. 



The Brooms are very beautiful in May, and few 

 shrubs flower more profusely. They thrive best in light 

 or at least well-drained soil. It is necessary to put out 

 small plants grown in pots, for they are difficult to trans- 

 plant successfully from the open ground even when small, 

 and more difficult still when of fair size. Once planted 

 they should be left undisturbed. It is only during the 

 early life of these shrubs that pruning can be attempted, 

 for if one cuts back into the old branches they are not 

 likely to start into fresh growth. While the shoots are 

 young they can be cut back safely, with the object 

 of forming shapely bushes. Two of the most attractive 

 are the white Broom (Cytisus albus) and the Primrose 

 Broom (Cytisus praecox), while others equally popular 

 are the common Broom (C. scoparius) and its variety 

 andreanus, which has handsome blooms in crimson and 

 yellow. Among the trailing kinds, suitable for planting 

 on ledges in the rock garden, are C. kewensis, cream 

 coloured, and C. Ardoini, with yellow flowers. The 

 purple-flowered Broom is quite distinct from the others 

 named; it produces fresh shoots every year from the 

 root stock, and when the flower display is over the 

 old shoots may be cut out to allow fresh ones to 

 develop. 



Laburnum, or Golden Chain. Few shrubs have 

 greater charm than the Laburnum, or Golden Chain; 

 it is without rival in beauty when laden with its hand- 

 some tresses of bloom. Although the common kind, 



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