900 



Gardening for Amateurs 



larger fruits than the type. P. angustifolia 

 is a new Chinese sort which is sometimes 

 met with as Cotoneaster angustifolia. Its 

 narrow leaves have often a greyish hue. It 

 is less hardy than the other species. The 

 fruits are orange-coloured, and ripen in 

 autumn. The Pyracantha succeeds in 

 ordinary garden soil, and may be increased 

 by means of cuttings, layers or seeds. 



Quercus Ilex (Holm or Evergreen 

 Oak) is the most useful large-growing ever- 



phillyraeoides is a useful Evergreen Oak 

 from Japan. In this country it takes the 

 form of a large bush, and is useful for a 

 lawn specimen. Q. cuspidata and Q. acuta 

 are other Japanese evergreens. They form 

 bushes in this country, and are conspicuous 

 by reason of their long, more or less ovate 

 leaves. All the Oaks like good, deep soil. 



Veronica. The numerous shrubby speci- 

 mens of New Zealand Veronica are excellent 

 for the extreme south and west, but they 

 are not hardy enough 

 for general cultiva- 

 tion. The hardiest of 

 all is V. Traversii, 

 which may be grown 

 throughout the 

 Midlands. It forms a 

 shapely bush 4 to 5 

 feet high, with small 

 bright green leaves, 

 and bears spikes of 

 white, lilac -tinged 

 flowers in May. Little 



An ancient Evergreen Oak. 



green outside the Coniferae. A native of 

 the Mediterranean region, it is perfectly at 

 home in the Midlands and south of England, 

 whilst it also thrives in some parts of the 

 north. Under certain conditions it may be 

 met with as a tall tree with a trunk 20 feet 

 high and a moderately small head of branches, 

 but more often the trunk is short and the 

 head wide and spreading. It is excellent for 

 planting to block out unsightly objects, for 

 although of slower growth than the Pines, 

 its leafage is denser and the branch system 

 is retained very much later in life. As it 

 transplants badly it should be placed in a 

 permanent position whilst very young. It 

 is quite amenable to pruning, and forms a 

 good hedge plant in the south. Quercus 



priming is necessary 

 save the removal of 

 the dead flower-heads. 

 V. speciosa is the 

 most useful of the 

 more tender strong- 

 growing kinds. In 

 ,' ; ! h'vonslihv. Cornwall. 

 etc., it forms a bush 

 ,,,.;:; ji 4 to (i feet high and 

 as far through. There 

 are many varieties 



bearing purple, red, pink or white flowers. 

 Amongst other kinds, V. salicifolia, buxifolia, 

 and cupressoides, are all worth attention. 



Viburnum. The most useful evergreen in 

 this group is V. Tinus, the Laurustinus. a 

 large bush native of the Mediterranean 

 region. It is well known by reason of its 

 waxy-white flowers which appear in flat 

 heads during winter and spring. It grows in 

 ordinary garden soil, and may be planted 

 throughout the greater part of the country. 

 V. rhytidophyllum is a new kind from China. 

 It is chiefly remarkable by reason of its strap- 

 shaped leaves, which are often 9 inches long, 

 deeply wrinkled above and densely woolly 

 beneath. The flowers are cream-coloured, 

 and at their best in May. 



