54 



Isaac Hicks & Son, Westbury Station, N. Y. Shrubs 



Azalea, continued 



Ghent. Azalea pontica. In England the choicest 

 garden treasures are called "American plants," 

 meaning the Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Moun- 

 tain Laurel. The Ghent Azaleas include a long 

 list of named varieties originating mostly at 

 Ghent, Belgium, by hybridizing the Azalea pon- 

 tica of Asia Minor with the American species, as 

 A. lulea, A. nudiflora and A. viscosa. They in- 

 clude all the colors mentioned for the genus 

 Azalea, frequently several colors harmoniously 

 blended in one flower. Many varieties have 

 double flowers. We have a quantity of old plants 

 that have been growing on Long Island several 

 years and are well established, which we dig with 

 large balls of earth. A bed of Azaleas should hold 

 equal rank with the rose-beds in a flower-garden. 

 Our collection presents an unequaled opportunity. 



Pinxter Flower (Wild Honeysuckle; Swamp 

 Apple). A. nudiflora. This grows on Long Island 

 with or near the Mountain Laurel. It is found on 

 the crest of Harbor Hill where soil is rather dry 

 and gravelly, and also on the slopes of the hills 

 where there are springs at the base, as at Plandome, 

 Oyster Bay, Cold Spring, Herricks, and many 

 other places. It does not flaunt its beauty fre- 

 quently along the road-sides on Long Island as 

 upon the mainland where solid rock holds up the 

 moisture. It is a graceful shrub, occasionally 

 5 feet high, with delicate pink blossoms. 



White. A. viscosa. In passing swampy places, 

 the pleasant perfume of this is often evident in 

 July. It is the latest of the Azaleas to bloom. 

 It is pure white, sometimes tinged with pink. 

 The outside of the flowers have viscid hairs 



Azalea, White, continued 



which catch insects. We offer old plants grown 

 in the nursery for a dozen years. 



Southern. A. Vaseyi. This was recently discov- 

 ered in the southern Alleghanies and was named 

 after Dr. Vasey, United States Botanist. In our 

 opinion it is the loveliest one of all. The color 

 is the most delicately shaded shell-pink. A few 

 are nearly white. It is the first to bloom and, 

 therefore, has no competitors. Our plants are 

 probably the oldest that are offered, being well 

 set with bloom-buds. Those having greenhouses 

 should experiment with forcing it, for it is one 

 of several beautiful flowers capable of relieving 

 the monotonous product of commercial green- 

 houses. It grows well in the open, but would 

 thrive in a moist semi-shaded position. 



Barberry Berberis 



Japanese. Berberis Thunbergii. The Japanese 

 Barberry is the most popular shrub and hedge 

 plant from Newport north. It is becoming very 

 popular here. It is not likely to be overdone, as 

 the California Privet, because it is not quite so 

 quickly propagated. It is hardy where the Cali- 

 fornia Privet is not. It never gets thin at the 

 bottom, in fact, it is the thickest and densest 

 shrub at the base of any we know. It makes a 

 low hedge and requires little or no trimming to 

 keep it in presentable condition. That is a big 

 cash saving as compared with California Privet. 

 If left alone it will grow 4 feet high and 6 feet 

 broad in a few years. It is not likely to grow tall 

 enough to make a screen 8 feet high, as is often 

 required of the Ibota or California Privet. On 



The Japanese, or Thunberg's Barberry, has a dozen or more landscape uses. Here it holds a steep bank better and 

 cheaper than grass. Its lights and shadows correspond with the Dogwood beyond. It exceeds the Dogwood in the persis- 

 tence of its red berries, which remain till May, while the robins strip the Dogwood in November. Entrance drive of Mr. 

 R. D. Winthrop, Westbury. L. I. 



