128 THE GARDENER'S COMPANION 



are very quickly devoured by the birds. Two or 

 three of these shrubs planted near together will, 

 in a few years, form a splendid bank of evergreen. 



Privet Ligustrum. The common Privet (L. 

 sempervirens) is useful for hedges, and for filling in 

 rough wild places. There are a number of orna- 

 mental varieties, including the gold and silver 

 Privet, useful among other shrubs, and very hardy, 

 but rather prim-looking, reminding one of little 

 town gardens and of public recreation grounds. 



Rhododendrons. These well-known shrubs are 

 very beautiful in a soil of loam and peat, where 

 they will grow into enormous bushes, and are 

 covered with flowers in April and May ; but it is 

 useless trying to cultivate them in an unfriendly 

 soil. 



Roman Laurel Rascus racemose. Wands of 

 Smilax-like foliage, growing up from the ground, 

 very pretty for decorative purposes ; the sprays 

 may be freely cut each year, as new ones are 

 produced each spring to take the place of the old ; 

 the plant is about three feet high, and is slow to 

 increase. 



Tamarisk Tamarix. This is the feathery shrub 

 which grows so freely close to the sea ; it is quite 



