Gardening for Amateurs 



915 



position in loamy soil, when pruned back to 

 within an inch of the base of the previous 

 year's shoots in spring. Propagation is by 

 cuttings of ripened wood placed in a border 

 out of doors in October. 



FLOWERING IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, 

 AND NOVEMBER 



There are very few deciduous shrubs at 

 their best during these months, although 

 several of those which blossom in August 

 continue through September and even to 

 October. 



Aralia spinosa, a curious shrub with long, 

 stout, spiny branches terminated by a head 

 of very large ornamental leaves, bears large 

 terminal panicles of cream-coloured flowers 

 in September and October. Its most satis- 

 factory position is at the back of a shrubbery 

 where there is a dark background. 



Garyopteris Mastacanthus, a low-grow- 

 ing shrub from China and Japan, bears blue 

 flowers freely in September. It should be 

 given a sunny position in loamy soil, at the 

 foot of a wall. There is a variety with 

 white flowers. 



Hamamelis virginica (American Witch 

 Hazel) blossoms in October about the time 

 when the leaves are falling. The flowers are 

 yellow. Light loamy soil is suitable, and no 

 pruning is required. 



Hibiscus syriacus is one of the showiest 

 of the September shrubs. A native of the 

 Orient, it is familiar in gardens as a bush 

 5 to 8 feet high, with a like diameter. There 

 are numerous varieties which have white, 

 red, lilac, blue or mauve flowers, some being- 

 single and others double. All thrive in a 

 sunny position in ordinary garden soil, are 

 increased by cuttings and require no regular 

 pruning. 



Hydrangea paniculata. -This is a very 

 showy shrub which commences to bloom in 

 August, but is usually at its best in September. 

 It grows naturally to a height of 6 or 8 feet, 

 but is usually kept about 3 feet high by 

 repeatedly pruning the branches back in 

 spring. This regular pruning results in 

 enormous heads of flowers which appear 

 from the ends of the branches in cone-like 

 inflorescences. The flowers are cream coloured, 

 the fertile ones being small, and the sterile 

 ones large. The variety grandiflora bears 

 almost entirely sterile flowers. On vigorous 

 plants the flower-heads are sometimes 18 

 inches long, and 9 inches in diameter at the 

 base. Rich loamy soil is necessary, with 

 an annual mulch of well-rotted manure in 

 spring. In addition to the regular pruning 

 in February, the young shoots should be 

 thinned out in June if exceptionally large 

 flower-heads are desired. 



Laburnum caramanicum is a loose- 

 growing shrub bearing terminal inflorescences 

 of yellow Pea-shaped flowers in September. 

 It is not worth general notice. 



Lespedeza Sieboldii is a low-growing 

 shrub from China and Japan, which bears 

 large inflorescences of rosy - purple Pea- 

 shaped flowers during September. As a rule 

 it is treated as a herbaceous plant, the 

 branches being cut to the ground-line each 

 spring. A sunny position and loamy soil 

 should be given. 



Vitex Agnus-castus, a native of China, 

 is sometimes called the Chaste Tree, by reason 

 of its charming and graceful panicles of 

 white flowers. It may only be grown 

 against a sunny wall and even then its 

 flowers are only perfected after a hot 

 summer; it is not suitable for gardens in 

 cold districts. 



Spar axis. The Sparaxis are South 

 African flowers belonging to the Iris family, 

 closely allied to, and requiring similar cul- 

 tural treatment to Ixia (p. 925). Like 

 other bulbous plants, the Sparaxis require 

 careful attention after flowering, for if not 

 watered properly until the leaves turn 

 yellow the bulbs do not mature thoroughly. 

 After they have died down keep them in a 



dry place until autumn. Good kinds are : 

 bulbifera, yellow ; grandiflora, a very showy 

 sort, 1 to 2 feet high, with purple, white or 

 other coloured flowers ; tricolor, a variable 

 kind, growing from 1 to 2 feet high, with 

 orange, yellow and black-marked flowers. 

 The varieties blanda, white and rose, and 

 violaceo-purpurea, purple, black and yellow, 

 are showy. All bloom in early summer. 



