906 



Gardening for Amateurs 



torily in well-drained loamy soil to which 

 a little peat has been added. They object 

 to frequent root disturbance, and are rather 

 averse to pruning, therefore permanent 

 positions should be provided when the plants 

 are first put out and pruning should be 

 limited to keeping them in shape. Pro- 

 pagation is effected by means of seeds and 

 layers. The latter often take two years to 

 root. 



Potentilla fruticosa, a yellow-flowered 

 European shrub growing from 1-J to 3 feet 

 high, is useful for shrubberies or beds on 

 account of its long flowering period, for 

 blossoms are to be found from the end of 

 May until late autumn. It succeeds in any 

 kind of loamy soil, and is increased by means 

 of seeds. Another useful kind is the white- 

 flowered P. salesoviana. 



Prunus (Almond, Cherry, Peach, 

 Plum). Although the majority of the mem- 

 bers of this family are strictly small trees there 

 are several of shrubby habit. Of these P. nana 

 is one of the earliest to bloom. Belonging 

 to the Almond section of the family, it may 

 aptly be described as a miniature represent- 

 ative of the common Almond. It grows about 

 3 feet high and bears pink or rose-coloured 

 flowers, each one of which is J to 1 inch across, 

 freely during April. Except by layering it 

 is difficult to propagate. The common name 

 of Russian or Crimean Almond indicates its 

 native country. P. triloba, a bushy Apricot 

 from China, is another showy shrub, although 

 its double-flowered variety is decidedly more 

 attractive and useful. The latter bush 

 bears flowers 1 inch or so across, which are 

 of a peculiarly attractive shade of pink. 

 It blooms in April, and is used both for beds 

 and for planting against walls. The best 

 results are obtained by cutting the branches 

 back to within a few buds of the base as 

 soon as the flowers are over, for the blossoms 

 appear from almost every bud of the previous 

 year's shoots, and when hard cutting is 

 practised such shoots often attain a length 

 of 2 or 2| feet. Another Apricot which 

 has attracted attention of late years is P. 

 tomentosa from China and Japan. Forming 

 a bush 4 to 8 feet high and 10 or 12 feet 

 across, it bears delicate white, rose-flushed 

 flowers freely during late March and early 

 April. The petals are, however, delicate, 



and somewhat fugitive. P. spinosa flore 

 pleno is a double-flowered form of the 

 common Sloe or Blackthorn. Its attractions 

 centre in its tiny white blossoms, which 

 appear with considerable freedom. 



In Prunus japonica we have a very 

 beautiful dwarf Cherry from China and 

 Japan. It has been known for many years 

 by reason of its double-flowered forms, but 

 the type was only received in this country 

 about thirteen years ago. The double forms 

 are well known by their white and rose- 

 coloured forms respectively, the flowers in 

 each case being about 1 inch across. The 

 flowers of the type may be white or rose in 

 colour, and they are succeeded by red fruits. 

 The double forms are popular for outdoor 

 beds and for forcing. P. acida is a European 

 Cherry of dwarf habit. Its varieties dumosa. 

 humilis, Marasca. and umbraculifera all 

 form miniature trees which bloom freely 

 from the time when they are a couple of 

 feet high. They are excellent for specimen 

 trees on lawns. 



All the different kinds of Prunus thrive in 

 ordinary garden soil, and with the exception 

 of the double P. triloba require no regular 

 pruning. P. japonica flore pleno may be 

 pruned every third year. 



Ribes (Flowering Currant and Goose- 

 berry). These are everyone's plants, they 

 are very easy to grow, and accommodate 

 themselves to a variety of conditions. 

 Given ordinary garden soil, they succeed 

 admirably, require practically no pruning, 

 and need no further attention than an 

 occasional top dressing of manure. R. 

 sanguineum is the commonest plant. It is 

 known as a shrub 5 to 8 feet high and as 

 far through, bearing racemes of pale red 

 flowers in April. There are, however, many 

 varieties, some of which are superior to the 

 type. The best are atrorubens and atro- 

 sanguineum with rich red flowers, albidum 

 with white blossoms, and flore pleno with 

 double red flowers. 



The Buffalo or Missouri Currant (R. 

 aureum), like the last-mentioned, is a 

 Western North American shrub which enjoys 

 some considerable popularity. It is recog- 

 nised by its glossy-green leaves and racemes 

 of golden flowers which are deliciously 

 fragrant. Of several varieties, that known 



