40 DECORATIVE PLANTS, TREES AND SHRUBS 



unlike tree poppies. These flowers are exceedingly attractive and 

 the shrubs bloom over a period of a month. Cuttings are made in 

 July-August and inserted under lights (see Ch. Ill) ; but the root 

 system is so poorly developed that it is not safe to attempt trans- 

 planting when the shrubs have attained any size. It is customary 

 to grow them in pots and keep them plunged in the open ground, 

 and it is thus that they must be offered in the market. 



CYDONIA (PYRUS) JAPONICA 



This is an effective and very popular wall shrub. To thousands 

 of people it is known only by its varietal name of "japonica." 

 It is undoubtedly " a thing of beauty " in the spring time with 

 its masses of deep red flowers reminiscent of highly coloured apple 

 blossom. There are other colours, including white, but its best- 

 known form is the common one, which is common only in the sense 

 that it is well known, for there is nothing else common about it. 

 It is another of those plants which, like the cistus and pyracantha, 

 will not readily transplant unless it is grown in pots and so can be 

 transferred to the ground without disturbing what root there is. 

 The pyracantha is a kind of sister plant to it, but in addition to its 

 flowers it furnishes itself with numerous heads of orange-scarlet 

 berries which make it beyond doubt the finest wall bush we possess 

 for winter decoration. Lelandi is the best variety. They are easily 

 raised from seed. 



