912 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Zealand. In the open ground it grows from 

 8 to 12 feet high in the southern counties, 

 and is very beautiful when covered with its 

 axillary clusters of large white flowers. 

 Light, loamy, well-drained soil is essential 

 to success. It ought only to be planted in 

 the open ground in the milder parts of the 

 country ; elsewhere the protection of a wall 

 should be afforded. Cuttings will root 

 during summer, but not easil} r , and pro- 

 pagation is often by layers. Xo regular 

 pruning is necessary. 



Robinia. One or two kinds of Robinia 

 may be classed amongst shrubs, notably the 

 Rose Acacia (R. hispida). This is a North 

 American plant which spreads by under- 

 ground stems, and is increased by root 

 cuttings. Its branches are covered with 

 stiff brown bristles, and it bears large rose- 

 coloured flowers. The spineless variety, 

 inermis, is, however, infinitely more beautiful 



and should always be selected. Its large 

 rose-coloured flowers appear in dense racemes 

 during June. R. Kelseyi is another showy 

 kind with rose-coloured flowers. 



Sophora viciifolia. This is a Chinese 

 shrub belonging to the Pea family. In the 

 open ground it grows about 6 feet tall, but 

 attains twice that height against a wall. 

 The dainty pinnate leaves are 2 to 3 inches 

 long, and are numerous on the rather 

 spiny branches. The flowers are white with 

 a violet tinge, and are borne freely during 

 June. It is one of the best of the newer 

 shrubs, and thrives well in loamy soil. It is 

 a very difficult subject to transplant, and 

 should be placed in a permanent position 

 whilst quite small. Increase is by seeds or 

 cuttings. 



Spartium junceum (Spanish Broom) 

 enjoys a long flowering period, for from 

 the time its first flowers open in June 



Mock Orange (Philadelphia coronarius). 



